Australia’s Travis Head mentioned that he is greater than keen to stay on the high of the order after his blistering century within the first Ashes Take a look at. His remarks come as questions linger over Usman Khawaja’s health and long-term place within the nationwide aspect.
Head, Australia’s established No. 5 for a lot of the previous 4 years, stepped in as opener throughout the second innings in Perth when Khawaja was sidelined with again spasms. He responded with an excellent 123 off 83 balls, driving Australia to a speedy chase of 205 and a 1–0 collection lead forward of Thursday’s Take a look at on the Gabba.
Khawaja, who turns 39 subsequent month, has been named within the 14-man squad and insists he’s “assured” of being accessible. However with just one century and a mean of 31.84 over the previous two years, his spot is much from assured.
Head mentioned his position for the subsequent Take a look at had not but been outlined, however added that he’s snug with no matter accountability he is given, together with one other stint on the high.
“I am joyful. If that is what is required to win a Take a look at match and if that is what’s required then, yeah, I am high-quality with it. I am making ready for something at this stage… There is a good bit to work by. I’ve simply bought right here. We have not actually had many conversations during the last week.
“It has been about simply spending a while out of the sport as a lot as you’ll be able to. You do not get a lot time to relax out in an enormous collection like this, the place it is fairly full-on each single day,” Head was quoted as saying by The West Australian.
Australia coach Andrew McDonald revealed after the Perth Take a look at that the staff had even floated the thought of rotating their opening pair between innings, a tactic Head says he would willingly embrace.
Head defined that the idea has been on the desk for a while. “We have talked about that loads: the way you get there, and what personnel we now have to have the ability to doubtlessly try this and the personalities within the line-up,” he mentioned.
“You’ve got seen it slightly bit within the T20 staff as effectively, the place we’re attempting to push the boundaries in power-hitting, and [asking] can we take singles at sure phases… I really feel like I can play in any position, so I am open to it, and it is simply attempting to work out in-game and in moments when which will come out and when you might use that.
“All choices are on the desk and have been for a protracted time frame about the place this staff can doubtlessly get higher, and the place there’s alternatives to doubtlessly win video games of cricket in moments. It is at all times been on the desk,” Head added.