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Opinion
On the surface, Travis Head’s start to Test cricket has been excellent.
With 939 runs in 25 innings and averaging a touch over 40, his numbers certainly stand up to scrutiny. Already a vice-captain at 25, there’s clearly long-term plans for the hard-hitting lefty.
But while his shot-making and talent are unquestioned, the South Australian has done little to dampen lingering questions about his application.
Head’s concentration again betrayed him in Perth, dismissed caught by specific New Zealand fields in both innings. In the first, a deliberately wide Tim Southee delivery was smashed directly to one of two extra-cover fielders.
“That’s not smart batting,” Michael Vaughan said in commentary.
In the second, he flicked another Southee delivery – this time an attempted bouncer that only just reached hip height – directly to leg gully.
“He must know he (leg gully) is there?” Ian Smith asked, perplexed.
Isolated, these mistakes can be looked past. But Head’s tendency to throw his wicket away isn’t rare. It was the same venue against India last year that Head was caught in both innings at third-man. Thrown a wide trap, he fell in both times by slashing hard outside off stump.
AP Photo/James Elsby
The first innings dismissal against New Zealand was the sixth time in his short career he had passed 50 and not pushed onto three figures, and Ricky Ponting was critical in his assessment.
“He’s got to eliminate these mistakes,” Ponting said.
“They’ve got a very straight field set. They’ve actually set him up for that…
“He can stand there and hit that as hard as he likes, he’s not going to get any runs for that actual shot. He’s not going to pierce that field. If he takes a bit off that hit and just pushes it squarer out to the deep point guy he gets a single and he gets off strike without taking any risk.
“He’s just got to think it through that little bit more.”
At 25, Head is the same age as Marcus Labuschagne but the latter’s maturity at the crease is far more advanced.
Labuschagne’s idiosyncratic similarities to Steve Smith have been lightheartedly highlighted, but one key attribute he shares with the world’s best batsman is his ability to understand the field in place and play accordingly. Both are constantly looking around the field, counting and assessing the shots they can and can’t play.
Head, by contrast, will at times back his shot-making ability irrespective of the field set. The first innings dismissal was symptomatic of that.
“It’s one thing to be positive,” Ponting added. “It’s one thing to score quickly (but) sometimes you just have to look at the game, look at how the opposition are trying to get you out, sometimes you pull your ego back in as a result of that.
“He’s just let another great opportunity go.”
Head, as I wrote before the Test summer commenced, deserves time to solidify his place – calls for his axing are reactionary and short-sighted.
Despite issues with concentration, his shot-making ability and tendency to move the scoreboard along from the outset are great signs this early in his career. He also rarely goes out early in his innings and has reached double-figures in 20 of his 25 Test knocks.
But to suggest his average of 40.82 after 15 Tests (better than almost all modern Australian greats) makes him exempt from scrutiny is as short-sighted as those calling for his axing.
Justin Langer values players who tough things out in the middle, fight through difficult phases when the bowling side may be on top, and reap rewards down the line. “You can’t score runs in the change rooms” is one of his favoured phrases.
Head’s tendency for concentration lapses is clearly at odds with this. And while he remains one of the brightest batting prospects in Australian cricket, he has some distance to go before fans can expect regular, extended stays at the crease.