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Opinion
Post Australia’s loss in the second Test there has been much conjecture about the team.
Just like there is after a loss on Australian soil – think back to Hobart 2016 – the post mortems have begun.
We have seen Joe Burns axed from the squad and two opening options in Dave Warner and Will Pucovski brought in, yet there has still been talk around Travis Head’s position. While I understand the want to make a change after a loss, making Travis Head the scapegoat will help no one.
While his series with the bat to date hasn’t filled anyone with confidence, dropping him now would only further damage Travis and the team.
Currently having 62 runs at 20.66 with a high score of 38 in the series obviously not good enough for an Australian number five.
However, in a side where only the dumped Joe Burns has made a half-century, Head has been far from the worst. His 38 came at a difficult time in the first innings in Melbourne, being part of a 86-run partnership with Labuschagne meant that Australia was at least in the game on day one.
I understand that it is frustrating to watch Head get in score 30odd and get out, but isn’t it better to be scoring 30odd than scoring 0? But why should he stay, well let’s look at some numbers.
At this point in his career Travis Head has a higher average (39.75) than the following names, Warner, Hayden, Clarke, Smith, Mark and Steve Waugh and Justin Langer.
If Head can have half of the career of these men, he will be thrilled. It’s also not as if Head is out of form, going into the Test summer he had scored the third-highest amount of runs in the shield, 455 runs at 65, including two centuries and one half-century.
Travis Head (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Now I admit there are issues with Heads game, the pressure of Test cricket clearly gets to him. There is no reason why a player of his talent should be consistently getting out in the 30s, yet it continues.
I’ve heard the argument that it would be better to drop him and work on this issue then come back. However, this hasn’t been an issue for him in Shield cricket; Head’s Shield numbers prove that he can make hundreds.
So the problem is in Test cricket, pushing him down the grades where this pressure doesn’t exist won’t make this problem go away he will need to work on his length of stay at the crease while in the Test side.
Australian supporters must look at Travis Head as an investment rather than a get rich quick scheme. Head has all the characteristics that we look for in Australian batsman, tough, gritty, short with crucial leadership capabilities.
Head was made captain of South Australia at only 22 years of age, he captained a recent Australia A match against India, in a game where Tim Paine was playing.
Cricket Australia is looking at Head as a possible captain in the future, and I have no doubt the investment in him will be paid off.
Who could replace him, it seems there are two options to replace Head, and they both involve young Pucovski.
Either Australia brings Pucovski into the middle order as a direct swap or Matthew Wade comes down, and Pucksovi opens.
The issue for me here is two new openers for the third Test is dangerous if Warner and Pucovski both play neither are match fit, and against Bumrah, Australia could easily be two for none.
The other option bringing Pucovski in at 5 means bringing in an even more inexperienced batsman into an already struggling middle order. Head offers some stability in a batting order which is already makeshift.
Australia needs to continue with the investment in Travis Head. He has the potential to play 100 Tests, and if dropped now, I fear may never make it back to the level.
His lack of resilience in the 30s can only be resolved at Test level and with a good record behind him must continue as Australia’s number five.
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