If you want to see the highs and lows of Test cricket, look no further than what happened to Travis Head in the space of only a few balls at the Gabba this afternoon.
The recalled Aussie batter was on top of the world when he reached his Ashes century off 85 balls.
He belted England to all corners of the field, saving Australia after a devastating period where they lost 4-29 and suddenly lost their ascendance.
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Head took the game away from the tourists with a brilliant knock and he celebrated accordingly when he reached triple figures.
But in the very next over he came crashing down – literally.
England quick Mark Wood fired a fast ball but it came out of his hand badly, and hit Head on the full.
The brutal beamer luckily struck the batter in the glove or torso before bouncing up and hitting him in the chin. If the contact was with the face first it could have been mightily nasty.
Head dropped to the ground instantly and ripped his gloves and helmet off to inspect the damage.
He was in good spirits, though, and got off the ground to say to a worried Wood, “”Oh… you got me once!”.
Team medicos came onto the field to inspect the damage, but Head picked up his bat and played on to reach 112 not out at stumps.
Cricket legend Allan Border was not impress with the delivery from Wood.
“That is so nasty. I’ve got the shakes watching that,” Border told Fox Cricket.
“It’s so good to see him get up. He’s obviously in some pain, but gets up and goes to the bowler and says he’s OK. That is phenomenal cricket.
“I’d have had a heart attack if I was facing that one.”