Emotional Simon Head says son Travis’s maiden Test ton has capped a breakout year
An emotional Simon Head never envisaged watching his son’s maiden Test ton from the humble surrounds of a work canteen but it was special all the same.
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An emotional Simon Head never envisaged watching his son’s maiden Test ton from the humble surrounds of a work canteen but it was special all the same.
A proud father had ventured to Dubai for Travis Head’s Test debut, then Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane but, weighed down by work commitments, missed the second Test between Australia and Sri Lanka at Manuka.
“I was stuck at work in the canteen watching it. I was keeping tab of the score and once he got to 60 odd I was watching it on the TV, very emotional,” said Simon Head, reflecting on 25-year-old Travis’ breakthrough 161 against Sri Lanka in Canberra.
“I am not kicking myself, just happy he has got it, didn’t have to wait for me to get it. I have a lot of work on in the first half of the year. I am not getting ahead of myself hopefully I can get over for the first Ashes Test.”
Having retained a modicum of composure when the Australian No. 5 reached triple figures, Simon Head welled up when Travis looked to the skies in honour of former teammate Phillip Hughes.
“He has to stop looking at the sky, it gets me every time. It made it very emotional but very proud of him. Trav spent a lot of time with him and they were very close,” Simon Head told The Advertiser.
Travis Head was on the verge of Test tons with 72 against Pakistan in Dubai and India at Adelaide followed by 84 in the Sri Lanka series opener in Brisbane.
Dismissals on 98, 92 and 98 in November 2013 for South Australia meant Head waited until November 2015 for his maiden first-class century (114) against Western Australia in Adelaide. Head senior developed a routine to cope with the nerve splitting roller coaster involved with his son’s quest for a definitive Test ton.
“I get very nervous when he is batting and have a few milestones that help me relax. If he gets to his average it is upward from there. Around 80 you get a bit nervous,” said Head.
Having reached the crease at 3-28, Head figured in a record 308-run union against Sri Lanka with unbeaten opener Joe Burns (172).
“He features in three of Australia’s top four Test partnerships this summer. He makes runs when his side is in trouble,” said Head.
Head noted how eight-Test batsman Travis endured conjecture over his spot against India in Adelaide but was now talked up as Tim Paine’s captaincy successor.
The Redbacks skipper is Australia’s most prolific Test batsmen this summer with 482 runs at 53.5 and first Croweater since Jason Gillespie to register a ton in the baggy green.
“There has been a lot of talk about his technique. My advice was ‘you are a gun’, just go and bat. He is almost back to see ball, hit ball,” said Head.
“I said if he had entrenched himself in the Test team at the end of the summer we will be saying what a breakout year and who would have thought he would come out of it dual vice captain!”
SA TON-MAKERS
(Past 20 Test centuries by South Australians)
161 Travis Head v Sri Lanka, Canberra (2019)
201no Jason Gillespie v Bangladesh, Chattogram (2006)
153 Darren Lehmann v Sri Lanka, Colombo (2004)
129 Darren Lehmann v Sri Lanka, Galle (2004)
177 Darren Lehmann v Bangladesh, Cairns (2003)
110 Darren Lehmann v Bangladesh, Darwin (2003)
160 Darren Lehmann v West Indies, Port of Spain (2003)
125 Greg Blewett v England, Birmingham (1997)
214 Greg Blewett v South Africa, Johannesburg (1997)
115 Greg Blewett v England, Perth (1995)
102no Greg Blewett v England, Adelaide (1995)
119 Andrew Hilditch v England, Leeds (1985)
113 Andrew Hilditch v West Indies, Melbourne (1984)
120 Wayne Phillips v West Indies, Bridgetown (1984)
150no Greg Chappell v Pakistan, Brisbane (1983)
159 Wayne Phillips v Pakistan, Perth (1983)
143no David Hookes v Sri Lanka, Kandy (1983)
115 Greg Chappell v England, Adelaide (1982)
117 Greg Chappell v England, Perth (1982)
176 Greg Chappell v New Zealand, Christchurch (1982)
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