Australia v Sri Lanka 1st Test at the Gabba: Ian Healy endorses promotion of Travis Head to vice captain

Ian Healy sees no problem in selectors making the unproven Travis Head the latest player to be confronted by the challenge and the curse of the Australian vice-captaincy.

Travis Head has plenty of leadership experience with South Australia.

Ian Healy sees no problem in selectors making the unproven Travis Head the latest player to be confronted by the challenge and the curse of the Australian vice-captaincy.

Mitchell Marsh lasted just three Test matches as Tim Paine’s deputy before being dropped, and Head is in a similar boat in the sense he has been thrust into leadership before he’s established himself in the team.

However, Healy, who served as a distinguished and robust deputy to Mark Taylor, says vice-captaincy shouldn’t be a burden and if Head feels pressure by his appointment it would be “his fault” and an issue he simply would need to deal with.

Travis Head has plenty of leadership experience with South Australia.

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Despite the statesman-like impression Tim Paine has made as Australia captain, one of the greatest wicketkeepers in the history of the game still believes that the relentless strain of being skipper and gloveman will ultimately put a shelf-life on the Tasmanian’s time in the top job.

Healy predicts Paine will keep the fires burning for at least another 12 months until Steve Smith’s ban from captaincy expires, but remains adamant his reign can’t last much longer than that – due to the extreme physical and mental toll.

As well as being open to Smith immediately returning to his old post, Healy said selectors were right to invest in young prospects like Head, regardless of the fact the 25-year-old might need runs against Sri Lanka to even book his ticket for the Ashes.

“It’s a nice acknowledgment that we like you and you’re the right character we’re looking to develop,” said Healy who will commentate on Fox Cricket for his home Test in Brisbane.

“Now if that puts pressure on you as a player then it’s probably your fault.

“If it is putting pressure on any of these players, they’ve got to deal with it.

“Travis has good captaincy grounding already as a young man as captain of South Australia and he is more the future. I think that’s an okay acknowledgment of a young player.

“They’ve (the young leaders) got to speak to the players and coaches and go, ‘how can I handle this?’

“There is no greater example of that than the bloke who took to it the quickest in Tim Paine.

Ian Healy says Tim paine has a shelf life as captain.

“Because he’s come from nowhere and had a lot of faith and a lot of roles bestowed upon him and he’s done it really well.”

However, despite Paine’s impressive first foray into captaincy, Healy warned that he doesn’t believe the skipper has busted the long-held theory that being skipper and keeper is too many hats for one player to wear.

“I don’t think he’s changed anything. I think Painey has done a fantastic job and I think he will be able to last the ban of Steve Smith, but that might do him,” said Healy.

“That’s when he’ll be really tired. It’ll be very interesting to find out after that Indian series just how tired he was. How he felt the days after that and how long it took to recalibrate.

“No, I don’t think you can do it long term, especially when you’ve got candidates in your side who are just as capable of doing that leadership role.

“Tim Paine would love to sit back and be that set of eyes and gloves for the captain, I’m sure. And he could be valuable after Smithy returns (by taking a step back). I think he’ll get through the captaincy, but it’s high energy and doesn’t last long.”

Originally published as Australia v Sri Lanka 1st Test at the Gabba: Ian Healy endorses promotion of Travis Head to vice captain