[Watch] Travis Head smacks Sam Curran's opening over for 30 runs with three consecutive sixes in ENG vs AUS 2024 1st T20I

Australian opener Travis Head thrashed 30 runs off a Sam Curran over in the first T20I against England at the Rose Bowl in Southampton. The left-handed batter hammered three sixes and three fours off Curran's bowling to put the tourists in complete control.

The incident occurred in the fifth over of the first innings as Curran came replaced Jofra Archer in the attack. Head began the over with two boundaries over mid-on and through the cover region. The next three deliveries went for maximums as the South Australian dispatched the ball over deep square leg, wide long-on, and deep point. With Curran bowling another full delivery, the Aussie opener thrashed one more through the covers for a boundary to end the over.

The 30-year-old completed a 19-ball half-century in the following over sent down by Saqib Mahmood. However, Head lost his wicket in the final over of the powerplay, perishing for 59 off 23 deliveries. The aggressive southpaw smacked 80 off 25 balls in the opening T20I against Scotland in the preceding T20I series.

Australia finish with an underwhelming total despite Travis Head's fiery half-century:

Australia, meanwhile, failed to keep the same tempo throughout their innings. While the left-hander's wicket ended their opening stand of 86 in six overs, the visitors were eventually bowled out for 179. Matthew Short (41) and Josh Inglis (37) were the only other substantial scorers for their side.

Liam Livingstone finished as the pick of the bowlers for England with figures of 3-0-22-3 while Jofra Archer and Saqib Mahmood snared two wickets each. Curran and Adil Rashid took a scalp each. This is England's first white-ball fixture of the home summer and their first since the T20 World Cup 2024 semi-final against India.

The home side are without their regular captain Jos Buttler due to a calf injury. The keeper-batter also remains doubtful for the subsequent five-game ODI series.