Australian batsman Travis Head is a man under pressure – and he wouldn’t want it any other way as he attempts to prove he is the country’s best ODI spin option.
Head is renowned for his prowess with the bat but he also wants to be known as a frontline spinner after being thrust into the deep end against Pakistan over the past three matches.
In somewhat of a surprise move, Head has been handed the ODI spinning responsibilities ahead of Glenn Maxwell. And so far the move has been a success.
Head returned figures of 0-28 off 10 overs in the series-opening win against Pakistan and in Thursday’s seven-wicket triumph at the WACA Ground he snared 2-65 to help power Australia to a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.
The right-arm spinner would have claimed a third scalp, but wicketkeeper Matthew Wade missed an easy stumping.
Head’s career bowling record doesn’t make for pretty reading – he has taken just eight wickets in 18 ODI matches at an average of 52.
And his return in first-class and domestic one-day ranks is even worse.
But Head’s bowling has improved dramatically over the past year, to the point where he is now confident enough to call himself a frontline spinner.
“I think I am at the minute. I guess it’s me and Maxxy,” Head said on Friday.
“I’ve worked really hard on it. I wanted to add another skill to my game, to help selection in any form for any team.
“I started bowling a lot more at South Australia. It helped I got the captaincy and was able to bowl myself a bit more.
“It’s something I enjoy doing. But I’ve got to keep doing the job, otherwise there’s other guys who can do that job. I’m always under pressure.”
Maxwell is yet to bowl for Australia this summer, while specialist spinner Adam Zampa has featured just once – taking 2-66 in a win over NZ at the SCG.
Zampa and Maxwell could come into the spin equation for Sunday’s fourth one-dayer against Pakistan on a spinner-friendly SCG wicket.
Paceman Mitchell Starc is set to return after being rested from Thursday’s win at the WACA Ground, while Peter Handscomb is expected to retain his spot after scoring 82 on debut.
Pakistan will welcome back skipper Azhar Ali from a hamstring injury.
Australia can wrap up the five-game series with a win on Sunday.
Ozibatla
Guest
The message is that if you speak in disagreeance at all towards another member of the team, you are banished to the bottom of the priority pole and it will take plenty of ass licking to climb back up the pole. Smith seems to take things personally and holds a grudge like a dog does a bone.
Don Freo
Guest
What's the message?
Don Freo
Guest
Oh...Voges and Finch in the same breath?
Ben Brown
Guest
Absolutely. I love Smith as a batsman but he seems it's his way or the highway when it comes to setting fields and the amount of overs a players feels comfortable with. Take Lyon for example. Smith has used him terribly.
Ashan D
Roar Pro
Yes it is plain obvious there is internal politics in play here. One can imagine its most likely a power struggle between Smith and Boof with the other selectors. No one else can understand the reasoning behind this or explain this in any other way.
Ozibatla
Guest
Overused to send a message to Maxwell. Boy ohh boy hes upset the smithtatorship. Do ya think Smith is more of a yes man in Lehmanns company than Clarke was?
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Head's bowling has improved a fair bit over the past year but he still looks very much a part timer to me, no better than the likes of Voges or Finch. He's worth bowling on dry pitches in Asia but I'd only be using him as a last resort on the much truer batting decks of Australia or England (where the Champions Trophy will be held in a few months). Head was fairly handy in Sri Lanka, but in his 13 ODIs outside Asia he's averaged 66 with the ball. I'd let Head develop his bowling further in domestic cricket and maybe in another 1-2 years it will be decent enough to warrant him being a proper ODI all-rounder. For the moment he's a batsman whose part-time spin is being heavily overused.
Mike Dugg
Guest
I didn't know Head was such a comedian! Pakistan have shown his pies too much respect. Maxwell is a far better bowler
BurgyGreen
Guest
Travis Head: ODIs Innings: 14 Average: 52 Economy: 5.72 List A Innings: 28 Average: 58.25 Economy: 5.86 Glenn Maxwell: ODIs Innings: 58 Average: 38.15 Economy: 5.52 List A Innings: 94 Average: 35.98 Economy: 5.32 There has to be more at play here than ability. Anyone can see that Head bowls absolute pies.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
See how he goes for the rest of the ODIs. Pity he won't do what SOK did and play red ball cricket rather than ODIs. If he does well in the remaining games, he could bat at 7, keeper 8 and three bowlers say SOK, Starc and Hazelwood.
Ashan D
Roar Pro
And Wade considers himself a wicket keeper... ooops wait