Travis Head has looked every inch the world’s best white-ball batter as he guided an ailing Australian team to a seven-wicket stroll in the first ODI against England with a dazzling, record-breaking century at Trent Bridge.

The irrepressible left-hander blitzed his way to an unbeaten 154 on Thursday, the highest innings ever made by an Aussie batter in an ODI in England, as the depleted visitors made light of the illness and injuries in their camp to race to 3-317, reaching their target with six overs remaining.

The 30-year-old world beater Head, enjoying a patch that has become ever more purple over the past 18 months, was aided by the return of a masterful old stager, with Marnus Labuschagne (77no) accompanying him in an unbroken match-winning fourth-wicket partnership of 148.

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Labuschagne enjoyed a uniquely splendid allround game, taking 3-39 off six overs, as well as four catches, before his half-century.

It proved an amazing cakewalk for Mitch Marsh’s world champions, considering the skipper had to rely on his part-time spinners, including the inspired Labuschagne, and his key tweaker Adam Zampa, on his 100th ODI appearance, to bowl out the hosts for a marginally sub-par total of 315 off 49.4 overs.

This was a spirited Aussie fightback after ODI debutant pacer Ben Dwarshuis, himself only included because key strike bowlers Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc were both unwell, had to be taken out of the attack after he had bowled four overs with what appeared to be a shoulder injury.

England, who batted first after their stand-in captain Harry Brook won the toss, had looked on course for a massive score, with opener Ben Duckett lashing 95 and Will Jacks 62 on a true wicket.

But Australia rebounded strongly to take the last eight wickets for 102 as Marsh, making a bewildering number of bowling changes, squeezed the best out of his happy band of occasional spinners.

The ever-enthusiastic Labuschagne couldn’t have looked more ecstatic, making two key caught-and-bowled interventions to get rid of Duckett (95 off 91 balls) and Brook (39 off 31) just when they appeared in full flow.

Head himself also got in on the act, grabbing the last two wickets in successive deliveries, while Matt Short had earlier dismissed the dangerous Jamie Smith for 23.

Zampa, after some early rough treatment from England’s top order, once more discovered his innings-wrecking mojo, ending with 3-49 on his landmark appearance, including the key breakthrough of Jacks, caught at cover by a leaping Steve Smith.

All in all, Australia’s slow bowlers contributed 30.4 of the 49.4 overs, finishing with combined figures of 9-190. Never before had their spinners taken nine wickets in a one-day international.

But it was Head’s batting heroics that had everyone talking and fans loved noted his low-key celebration when he brought up his century.

“BEAST MODE on for two years straight 🥶,” said the ESPNcricinfo social account.

While prominent cricket account CricCrazyJohns said: “Cold celebration by Travis Head.”

Another cricket fan said: “BEAST MODE on for two years straight. Cold celebration… 🥶.”