Australia's star batsman Travis Head gets a chance to open the batting in the next two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. Head is a regular opener for Australia in white-ball cricket but bats in the middle order in Tests.
However, the president of Australia selection George Bailey he did not rule out the possibility of getting Travis Head to open the batting in the Test series against Sri Lanka due to the spin-friendly conditions of the subcontinent.
If Head opens the batting, it won't be a great sign for young opener Sam Konstas, who recently made his Test debut against India. Konstas has had a thrilling start to his Test career as he has taken the attack in front of the opposition.
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Travis Head likely to open in Sri Lanka
Cricket Australia chairman of selectors George Bailey sees Travis Head as an X-factor player who can turn the game on its head. However, he stated that the final decision will be made by the head coach and the captain depending on the composition of the team.
Head temporarily opened the batting for Australia during the tour of India in 2023 when David Warner was ruled out due to injury. He scored 223 runs in five innings at an impressive average of 55.75 and scored at a strike rate of 71.47.
“Trav (Travis Head) is an option (to open). We have a number of options and there have been some preliminary discussions about where he might end up and that may depend on the structure of the first XI. I think Andrew (McDonald, head coach) and Steve (Smith, captain) will decide on that in due course once we get to Sri Lanka,” Bailey told reporters while announcing the squad.
Travis Head has an aggressive hitting style and can be a lethal striker. He has been in tremendous form in recent years across all formats. Recently, he was the highest winner of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with 448 runs in five Tests at an average of 56.
He scored all his runs at a strike rate of 92.56 with 2 hundreds and fifties. Head is known as a good spinner and can perfectly complement Usman Khawaja at the top. Khawaja usually likes to take his time, which can allow Head to figure it out and play freely.
Will Sam Konstas be dropped?
Travis Head's move up top will mean Sam Konstas will be dropped from the Playing XI. Konstas was impressive in his debut series and made a name for himself by playing an aggressive brand of cricket unconcerned about the strength of the opposition.
He played unorthodox shots for the best bowler in the world right now, Jasprit Bumrah. He wasn't afraid to resign to smash Bumrah over the infield despite being beaten on numerous occasions.
George Bailey praised the youngster for his brave batting, but believes the tour of Sri Lanka will provide plenty of insight into Konstas' abilities. He advocated the opener's technique to develop in spin-friendly conditions.
“I think you never really know (how they're going to do in certain conditions) until you actually run into them,” he said. “What I've seen is that he's a quick learner. (He) absorbs a lot of information,” Bailey said.
“So we expect them to get a lot out of it. I know from his spin game in Australia and the opportunities he (had) in different parts of the world, we think he has a good game. suitable and a technique that can last,” he noted.
Australia will play a two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. In the absence of Pat Cummins, Steve Smith will lead the team with Travis Head as vice-captain. Australia have also selected spinners like Todd Murphy and Matt Kuhnemann to complement Nathan Lyon.
Australia squad for Sri Lanka tour
Steve Smith (C), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey (week), Cooper Connolly, Travis Head (VC), Josh Inglis (week), Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster.