Why dropping Travis Head from Australian side for fifth Ashes Test at The Oval is short sighted
Most countries would throw their arms around a young batsman averaging over 50 and ranked third in the world for runs in 2019. Not Australia it seems after dropping Travis Head for the second time in 12 months.
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Steve Smith’s genius made selectors look good as Australia retained the Ashes but boning future skipper Travis Head for the second time in 12 months is both shortsighted and inexcusable.
Every country, bar Australia, would throw their arms around a young batsman averaging over 50 and ranked third for runs in 2019 behind genius Steve Smith and England talisman Ben Stokes.
Head has 515 runs at 51.5 this year and averages 42 over 12 Tests. Legend Steve Waugh, whose presence was crucial for Tim Paine’s men in England this series, averaged 27 after 12 Tests.
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South Australian left-hander Head will can take away a clear narrative from his axing.
If chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns or coach Justin Langer come calling with a vice-captaincy offer then run a mile.
Head joins Josh Hazlewood and Mitch Marsh in being demoted after appointment to what has become a poisoned chalice over the past 18 months.
Secondly, if you can manage to restrict your Ashes series average to 11 or below then it guarantees selection as enjoyed by openers Marcus Harris and David Warner.
Having ignored the impeccable case of Joe Burns and what should have been a right-hand/left hand combination against England spearhead Stuart Broad selectors persist with a flat-lining opening partnership.
“The reason Travis isn’t playing is because we felt like we needed a little bit of extra bowling at the end of a long series,” Test skipper Tim Paine explained.
“Mitch Marsh is our all-rounder and like we have with our bowlers, it’s not necessarily Travis being dropped.”
Head makes way for all-rounder Marsh, given another chance by Australia’s infatuated selectors. There is merit in adding bowling back-up for a tiring attack but axing Head before Matthew Wade, Harris or Warner is unfair and flawed.
Having ignored Wade to Australia’s detriment in an unsuccessful World Cup campaign, selectors persist with a veteran averaging less at 25 than Head this Test series.
It’s hard to fathom Langer supporting the move to cut down a batsman who could only have thrived in Australia’s push for its first series win on English soil for 18 years. Investing in Head would have been smart with a scarcity of frontline batting talent at home and Paine no certainty to remain skipper this summer.
The job of openers is to shield middle order strokeplayers and they have failed.
Head deserved a start on his record this year and performances in tough situations since debuting against Pakistan last October.
Head saved Australia with Usman Khawaja against Pakistan on debut in Dubai and was solid against India. He made a decisive maiden ton against Sri Lanka having arrived at the crease with Australia 3-28 in Canberra.
Head (35) was the only top six batsman to reach double figures with Smith (144) in the first Test at Birmingham which kept Australia in the contest. Head’s 130-run second innings stand with Smith broke England who had reduced the tourists to 3-75.
At Lord’s Head would guide Australia to safety with an unbeaten second innings 42, the visitors’ second top score.
Moderate scores flowed at Headingley and Manchester but the deck at The Oval would have suited Head. There should have been enough credit to gain a start.
The hatchet job on Head ranks as one of the most ruthless, ill founded moves since an undercooked Nic Maddinson was catapulted into the Test side at Callum Ferguson’s expense after one match in 2016.
Overlooked for the World Cup despite an impressive one-day record which included averaging 53 in England, Head must get back on the horse again.