Travis Head has demonstrated a preference for attacking the new ball, whether it be red or white, but he has ruled himself out of David Warner’s long-term replacement in the Test team. The daring opener believes that the role should go to a “specialist” and that the national selectors found his middle-order returns to be adequate as he gets ready for the forthcoming home series against Pakistan.
In his 42 Test matches thus far, Head has mostly played as a middle-order batsman, but earlier this year, in India, he quite successfully replaced David Warner. The left-hander was brought in and quickly scored 233 runs at an average of 55.75 in Delhi, Indore, and Ahmedabad. However, Warner’s successor at the top of the order is probably going to be one of the three players that participated in the Prime Minister’s XI match against Pakistan last week: Cameron Bancroft, Matthew Renshaw, and Marcus Harris.
“In the middle order, the (selectors) are pleased with me. Opening is a specialized job, in my opinion,” Head remarked. “The first opportunity should go to the people who have been waiting a long to join the team. However, talks are still going on with everyone; the only one that interests me is [opening in] the subcontinent. In the future, I don’t see myself moving around all that much.”
Head was the only player from Australia’s World Cup-winning team to remain until the end of the five-match series despite a demanding schedule, as the selectors gave some of the stars a break before the home Tests. Head could have played more red-ball cricket in the Sheffield Shield, but he opted to play in those Twenty20 Internationals instead in the hopes of securing a berth in the Twenty20I team for the World Cup the following year.
“I’m not a lock for that T20 World Cup, so I wanted to be present and try to perform and try and get myself in that team,” he stated. “We thought playing the three T20s was a better option than playing in the Sheffield Shield. It was essentially my final opportunity to stake my claim and ensure my inclusion in the mix, as there won’t be many T20 opportunities in the near future.”
Head had to wait patiently for his hand to recover sufficiently to let him to return to the pitch during that competition. Head’s brilliant 140 in the Ahmedabad final had earned Australia the World Cup. Before showing up and having such an influence, he was absent from the first few games. He disclosed that his hand was still not completely healed as he prepared to play in the Perth Tests.
“I believe the hand is approaching. He remarked, “I haven’t felt it in games since the early games (since his return). Training’s a little bit restricted and sore.”
Head became an internet star after his brave actions in Ahmedabad and the ensuing celebration, which caused meme pages to take off. Head appreciated the support he’s received from the fans after the final and saw the humorous side of what happened.
It’s been quite bizarre. Both the guys and I got a little too personal in a few of the pictures. The help has been fantastic. The boys getting together yesterday was a lovely touch. There are ten of us here who participated in the World Cup, and the excitement and good vibes are still present,” Head remarked.
