NEW DELHI: Travis Head has been the one Australian batter to constantly defy the Indian bowlers within the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. This is not the primary time his batting has troubled India, he additionally performed pivotal roles of their defeats through the ICC World Check Championship ultimate and the ODI World Cup ultimate final yr.
After a modest begin with a dismissal for simply 11 in his first innings of the sequence, Head bounced again brilliantly, scoring 89, 140, and 152 in his subsequent three innings.
Contemplating Head’s kind, former India coach Ravi Shastri humorously gave him a brand new nickname.
“As a result of his new surname is Travis Head’ache’,” Shastri stated on the newest episode of The ICC Assessment.
“They’re searching for balms in India. For foot issues, ankle issues (and) even a headache they’re searching for a balm. He’s preferrred for that.”
Shastri highlighted the batter’s improved short-ball method as a key think about his success.
“I believe he’s very sensible. From what I noticed of him three years in the past, he has improved immensely. Particularly with the best way he performs the brief ball. He ready to depart it. He has realized to depart it effectively at instances.”
“It isn’t a giant shot on a regular basis off a brief supply angled at his armpits or one thing. He is ready to both trip it or go for the large pictures. And whether it is center, center and off, then he hits it in entrance of sq. as effectively.”
“He picks up size very effectively. That is one in every of his nice strengths. And he has a flashing blade for the offside. So he is a tough man to comprise. And he is within the type of his life,” Shastri stated.
Though Head has been dismissed by India’s fast-bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, he has additionally managed to attain 83 off 91 balls whereas going through him. Shastri recalled a specific shot from Head towards Bumrah early in one in every of his innings, which made him realise that the left-handed batter was in distinctive kind.
“All of us knew he was harmful, however that first shot he performed off Jasprit Bumrah, that cowl drive, off the entrance foot. It was in some ways somewhat bit on the up, off a great supply, respectable supply. It instructed me that it is a participant in prime, prime kind.”
“He went on to point out precisely that. And the factor with him is there is not any, his mindset could be very clear. There is no clouded mindset. He is very clear concerning the scenario. That is my energy. I’m going to play in that trend. Sure, I’ll watch the state of the sport. I’d shift from fourth gear to 3rd gear. However I’ll all the time be in third and fourth gear as soon as I get my eye on.”
The continuing five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy sequence is presently locked at 1-1. Australia and India will play the fourth recreation, which is the Boxing Day Check, on the Melbourne Cricket Floor on December 26.
