Former Test opener Chris Rogers key to Travis Head’s batting success
Former Test opener Chris Rogers has hailed Travis Head’s mental machismo on delivering the blueprint for Australia’s next generation of batsman against India in Adelaide.
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Former Test opener Chris Rogers has hailed Travis Head’s mental machismo on delivering the blueprint for Australia’s next generation of batsman against India in Adelaide.
Head was one of four top six Australian batsman with less than 15 Tests fronting against India - its least experienced group since World Series Cricket.
India, by contrast, had nine players fronting from its 2014 Test tour of Australia.
Head’s 72 from 167 balls in Australia’s first innings 235 total belied natural attacking instincts and came seven months after reappraising his approach to batting.
“He has the talent, it was working the mental, tactical and emotional as well,” Rogers told the Sunday Mail.
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Head always possessed the searing strokeplay that can turn a match – highlighted by an incredible, unbeaten New Year’s Eve 101 against Sydney Sixers three years ago. Adelaide Strikers needed 51 runs from 18 balls to win and Head smashed 56 in 15.
This winter Rogers took Head aside and told him patience was a virtue at Test level and particularly in English conditions for Worcestershire leading into the 2019 Ashes. A new forward defence is Head’s best friend in the baggy green.
“Sometimes when you play in conditions like England the ball is swinging around corners. That is where your best weapon is to rely on defence,” said batting whisperer and national performance squad coach Rogers.
“I watched a bit of Trav in England and a couple of things I thought he was doing that would hinder him having success in England, the shapes he was getting his body into.
“I think he has done some pretty good work with the coaches with South Australia and Australia.”
Test legend Ricky Ponting lamented the “simple errors” from Australia’s top six in its first innings against India and a first-class system where averages of 40 are a rarity.
Head’s appointment as SA’s youngest skipper in February 2015 corresponded with an increase in his Sheffield Shield batting average from 28 to 41.
Head had the capacity to adapt and thirst to eliminate any weakness through relentless practice.
Attacked around the wicket by bowlers, Head had to find answers and new scoring avenues. Head’s 72 on debut against Pakistan helped achieve a draw in Dubai and the same score could save Australia’s bacon in Adelaide.
“It is not something you fix straight away, you work out your angles and he thinks hard about the game,” said Rogers.
“He is one of the players that is always working hard on his game and wants to get better.
“I think he has done some pretty good work with the coaches with South Australia and Australia.”
Legend Adam Gilchrist rates Head the key to a successful Australian ‘rebuild’ under coach Justin Langer.
“Travis Head could play a huge role in the future not just with bat in hand,” said Fox Sports expert Gilchrist.
“He is a young leader of his state team, really promising signs.”
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