Emotional Travis Head pays tribute to fallen mate Phillip Hughes
Travis Head took over as South Australian captain in the immediate aftermath of the Phillip Hughes tragedy and on Friday he paid an emotional tribute to his fallen mate.
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Travis Head took over as South Australian captain in the immediate aftermath of the Phillip Hughes tragedy and on Friday he paid an emotional tribute to his fallen mate.
Head proved with his breakthrough Test hundred that leadership is not a burden as he took one small step towards being the next Australian skipper.
In an ideal world, South Australia wouldn’t have appointed Head as their captain when he was just 21 years of age.
But even amid the grief that had gripped the heartbroken side in the fateful summer of 2014-15, they soon realised they were in good hands with Head at the helm.
Australia too would have preferred to let Head settle into Test cricket before naming him a 25-year-old vice-captain before he’d even made a Test hundred.
On Friday Head showed he can carry both as he plundered an impressive 161 against Sri Lanka.
He made a nod to the heavens to recognise his fallen mate, Phillip Hughes, when he brought up triple figures, and post-play he broke down when asked who his tribute was to.
“Hughesy as well. I’m a little bit emotional to be honest. But yeah,” said Head on SEN before he was unable to continue further.
“It was nice to bat with Burnsy (Joe Burns) and put us in a great position. For all the hard work I’ve done over this season and the past 18 months and to get that reward (was huge).”
The scoreboard shows that Head had a day out but he came to the crease at 3-28 as the only man standing between Australia and abject humiliation against the biggest basket case in world cricket.
Some players struggle under the weight of extra responsibility, but for others like Head, it suits and even enhances their game.
As recently as the day of his breakthrough Test hundred, former Test captain Mark Taylor admitted he wasn’t completely sold on Head because of his work against fast bowlers.
It must be said that query remains unresolved given the standard of the Sri Lankan seamers and the prospect of Jimmy Anderson with the swinging Duke’s ball in the Ashes later this year.
But Head looks like a kid who is improving. Best of all, he clearly wants to improve.
Head has an interesting presence because of his place in a long line of boom South Australian left-handers.
David Hookes, Darren Lehmann and Wayne Phillips all displayed flashes of brilliance.
Pinup of the 1970s and 80s Hookes and 1990s entertainer Lehmann in particular were debonair crowd pleasers, and had memorable moments for Australia, but may not have quite nailed the careers expected of them.
But Head, a stroke-maker in their own image has a chance to have the big-time Test career that eluded both of his predecessors.
Head’s challenge is to find the cement in his game.
The most impressive Head quality is his willingness to learn and improve.
In Brisbane, coach Justin Langer said Head had thrown away a hundred when he was trapped lbw for 84.
But even though he was again gifted a life on 87 in Canberra thanks to Sri Lanka’s shoddy fielding, Head converted and looks a long-term No.5 for Australia.
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Originally published as Emotional Travis Head pays tribute to fallen mate Phillip Hughes
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