Redbacks skipper Travis Head says he will offer any support possible to pave coach Jamie Siddons’ return
South Australian skipper and Test batsman Travis Head speaks for the first time on the shock mid-season leave taken by Redbacks coach Jamie Siddons.
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He’s working overtime to cement a Test No.6 spot against New Zealand but Travis Head is on call to smooth Jamie Siddons’ return as South Australian coach.
Siddons, half way through a fifth season in charge, has taken leave for personal reasons until the Big Bash League break.
Former Test batsman Greg Blewett was promoted to steer the Redbacks against Western Australia in Perth last week and Tasmania in Hobart starting Saturday.
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“It was very hard to get the news. Obviously I have been away. I have spoken to him, had a quick chat and pretty much if there was anything he needed from me,” Head said.
“I have full support for Jamie. It’s a tough time and my job is to try and help through that and I am sure we can.
“He will take a little bit of time out and hopefully he will be back and we can really try and work in the Shield.”
Head was five games into a journey as the state’s youngest skipper at 21 when Siddons assumed control for the 2015-16 season.
The Redbacks made consecutive Sheffield Shield finals in 2015-17 and were one-day runner-up in 2015-16 then 2017-18. However the Redbacks are on track for three consecutive Shield wooden spoons following an 18-game winless streak.
Head said the Redbacks had expected to challenge for titles this season while team morale was high when he returned Australia’s Ashes campaign
“We have worked closely together, our relationship has got quite strong over the past two years,” said Head of Siddons.
“The side was at a point where I thought we were making some really good gains, improvement.
“Yes the results haven’t been going away but it was the best vibe I had come back to from England and leading into the Shield games. I know the last two weeks has been a bit disappointing as we are a team that should be in that one-day competition and winning.
“We have 100 per cent support for Jamie. I think he is working 100 per cent with what he is doing. We are trying to improve, win games and a Shield for South Australia.”
Siddons’ predecessor Darren Berry stepped aside for personal reasons midway through a tumultuous 2014-15 campaign and didn’t return. Berry guided SA to drought-breaking 2010-11 Twenty20 and 2011-12 one-day titles. The Redbacks finished third and bottom twice in the Shield under former Victorian keeper Berry before departing as head coach.
The Redbacks’ upheaval continues with former Western Australian batsman Will Bosisto replacing leading run-scorer Tom Cooper who is sidelined with concussion effects.
Bosisto is the leading premier cricket run-scorer with 481 at 120 this season for Adelaide University.
Cooper – who has contributed 568 runs at 71 this season – sustained a head knock while batting in the second innings of the Redbacks Shield loss in Perth last weekend.
All-rounder Daniel Drew’s second XI 118 and 50 against Queensland is set to debut with Liam Scott dropped after one game against WA.
Alex Carey continues as stand-in captain with Jake Lehmann overlooked for a recall.