Matt Burnell (Spence, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Over the weekend Australians were treated to something truly special on the cricket field. In Adelaide's north, we felt just a little bit prouder than most, because Travis Head, a proud product of Craig Moore, walked out in the first Ashes test and delivered one of the great modern innings—a century off just 69 balls, the second-fastest in Ashes history, made under pressure against a full-strength England attack on a pitch. And he did not just survive; he dominated. He took the game on in a way only he can, with a mix of intent, fearlessness and pure striking ability. His 123 off 83 balls didn't just win a test; it lit up a series. It made jaws drop in lounge rooms across the country and heads drop in the Barmy Army.

It reminded us why our national sport matters so much in communities like mine: because kids in Salisbury, in Elizabeth, in Gawler and in Craigmore see one of their own stepping up on the bigger stage. It tells them that talent from the north can go anywhere. Travis Head is more than a world-class batter; he's an example of what hard work, resilience and local pride can achieve. And, because of Travis's work, we're already one step closer to another Ashes victory in Australia.

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