Travis Head wants to emulate Test success and regain his Australian white ball spot in a T20 World Cup year
Australian coach Justin Langer wants Travis Head to be his “fixer”. That’s how the dynamic South Aussie batsman can force his way back into the Australian T20 team ahead of the World Cup.
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Having solidified his Test spot, Travis Head has been told by Australian coach Justin Langer how to ‘float’ back to World Cup contention.
Head also has designs on regaining the Test No. 5 slot.
The left-hander reconciles he’s at the mercy of pushes for an allrounder at No. 6 or critics who aren’t satisfied by a 42 average that’s better than Sachin Tendulkar’s after 17 Tests.
Dropped after Australia’s one-day series loss against South Africa in November 2018, Head has been told runs and flexibility as a batting floater are his ticket back to white ball selection in a Twenty20 World Cup year.
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“It is a really important time for me wanting to get back into the white ball frame. I haven’t played a great deal of it, so I’m very excited to play some white ball cricket,” said Head, eyeing a BBL return as Adelaide Strikers skipper against Melbourne Renegades on Sunday.
“I want to play all three formats.
“I had some really good chats with JL over the past three weeks about where I am at and what I need to do.
“There is opportunity now with seven games and finals hopefully with the Strikers to show that I have still got it and perform really well.”
Head averages 41 over 12 one-day games for Australia opening and 31 in the middle order.
A future role as Langer’s fixer awaits.
“I want to be there, I’m disappointed I’m not and have to work extremely hard to get a spot. I think I am quite adaptable, that is my biggest strength, I can go from No. 1 to No. 7,” said Head of combating his limited overs exclusion.
“I have had opportunities at the top and done well.”
Head concedes he will have to usurp one of Aaron Finch, David Warner, Peter Handscomb, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith and D’Arcy Short in the white-ball pecking order.
“I don’t think I am far off, they have some really good, sound players and game plans and we have seen that back from the Indian series and played so well to the World Cup,” he said.
Head’s Boxing Day Test ton (114) quashed doubt over his tenure, while veteran Matt Wade is vulnerable at No. 5 after averaging 29.75 against hapless New Zealand.
“I guess with the No. 6 role the talk around the allrounder is always there. I think I have done enough to keep that spot, but there will always be talk around the balance of the team,” said Head.
“That’s the question mark.
“I have to make sure I can go up the order or keep that (No. 6) spot.”
Head will trade places as Strikers skipper with India bound keeper-batsman Alex Carey, which will avert a ‘Test come down’.
“It’s nice that we do a straight swap for some continuity. The pressure is on, I have to make sure I start well, I’m really conscious of that,” said Head.