'Lead from the front and win games' – Head's mantra as vice-captain

Head partnered Marnus Labuschagne (81) to add 166 runs for the fifth wicket to help Australia build a first-innings lead in the first Test in Brisbane. Later in the day, Pat Cummins dismissed Dimuth Karunaratne on the last ball of the day to put the hosts well and truly on top.

"It was very important for the team," Head said of his stand with Labuschagne. "To put us in a great position leading into day three, leading by 160 runs – it's fantastic.

"It was enjoyable batting out there with Marny. He left the ball beautifully, he knows The Gabba really well and the way he played was outstanding."

Head and Cummins were named co vice-captains of Australia before this series and while Cummins had shone through on day one with his four wickets, Head did his bit by batting for close to two sessions and help Australia recover from 82/4.

"It's a great honour to be behind Painey (Tim Paine, Australia captain) and I have always [said that] anything that can help the team in any aspect... if I can do it any way on the field or off the field, I will be more than happy to do that," Head said.

"I am happy with the way we played today, the way myself and Marny built that partnership, put them under pressure, bat for a long period of time and put us in a commanding position – I think that's the more pleasing aspect from today.

"To get out there and lead from the front with that partnership with Marny, that's what I want to do – get runs, put us in great positions and win games for Australia. Cummo [Cummins] bowled a fantastic spell yesterday and led from the front and today we were able to bat for a period of time."

The cherry on the cake was provided in the final over when Cummins got Australia an early break going into the third day. Head said it increased Australia's chances of getting a favourable result.

"Massive wicket," said Head on the last-ball strike. "Knowing that we can get a result there under lights, it's nice to get them one down and nice to break the left-handers up."

He added, "We get left and right now and the way Jhye [Richardson] and Pat bowled against the right-handers yesterday, swinging the ball away, we can put them under pressure in the morning. Hopefully the ball swings and Starcy [Mitchell Starc] gets us back up on the line and we get a good start."

Head's innings, which lasted 187 balls, was the second-longest innings by any Australian batsman this summer. A Test century has evaded the Australians this season even as the visiting Indian team, who beat Australia 2-1 before Sri Lanka came knocking, had three centurions in the four-match series.

Head attributed this statistical quirk to the Indian bowling and the assistance in the wickets for bowlers. "I think credit goes to the bowling. India have put us under a lot of pressure," Head said.

"They bowled really well. And today there were periods when the ball moved around. So credit to the bowlers, and throughout the summer there has been a bit in the wicket – the first two Tests of the summer and then here the ball swung and teams have bowled really well."

The left-hander felt that the elusive century isn't too far away. "For us it's about backing our game plan and doing that and today, a couple of guys were able to get in," Head said.

"We'd love someone to get a big hundred but hopefully someone can do that in the second innings or in Canberra (the second Test). The work we have been doing around that, it should not be far away."