Marnus Labuschagne says versatile batsman Travis head would shine at top of batting order against Sri Lanka

If Travis Head opens the batting for Australia in Sri Lanka, he will be a success, according to one of his teammates.

Travis Head’s potential move to the top of Australia’s batting order for the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka has been endorsed by teammate Marnus Labuschagne.

The aggressive Head notched up two centuries batting at No.5 in Australia’s recent 3-1 series win over India on home soil.

However, on the flatter wickets awaiting the Australians in Galle, where both Tests against the Sri Lankans will be played, there is a good chance that the versatile Head will open.

In Australia’s series on the sub-continent against India two years ago, Head was used as an opener in five innings.

From those innings, his best score was 90, and his other knocks at the top of the order included a 43 and a 49 off just 46 and 53 balls respectively.

Another quick-scoring opener in Sam Konstas will also tour Sri Lanka; however, he’s no certainty to hold his spot despite his audacious efforts in two Tests against India this summer.

Australia’s No.3 batsman Labuschagne predicted Head to be used in a way that “suits the team the best”.

Travis Head is an option to open the batting for Australia in two upcoming Tests against Sri Lanka. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

“When he played last in the sub-continent, in India, he had a lot of success when he batted at the top of the order,” Labuschagne said.

“It wasn’t a whole heap of sample size, but what we did see in the first probably 10 overs where the balls are new, that it’s a good opportunity to score, and one thing we know about Travis is he can score fast, especially against pace bowling.

“He can really put them under (pressure), and he’s really tough to bowl to, so if you can maximise the impact you’re having there, then there certainly looks like there’s value there for him to stay up there … (but) his spin game’s developed, so he can bat either at the top or in the middle.

“It’s probably just more what suits the team the best. It’s our job to find a way to outperform the opposition, and we just need to make sure we continue to find a way to do that.”

Labuschagne also urged his Brisbane Heat and Queensland teammate Matthew Renshaw to remain patient in his bid for selection in Australia’s white-ball teams.

Renshaw wasn’t chosen in Australia’s Champions Trophy squad despite averaging 70.75 with the bat in this season’s domestic one-day cup competition.

“I’m not shocked at all about his development in white-ball cricket because he’s had that for a long time,” Labuschagne said of the former Test opener.

“The only way you keep putting your name up there is with continuous runs.”

Originally published as Marnus Labuschagne says versatile batsman Travis head would shine at top of batting order against Sri Lanka