Shane Warne calls for selectors to axe Australian batsman Travis Head

A “frustrated” Shane Warne wants to see the national selectors make some ruthless decisions ahead of the New Year’s Test match.

Travis Head is on the chopping block.

Following Australia’s humiliating eight-wicket defeat at the MCG, most critics understandably targeted the batting line-up.

In two Test matches against India, only one batsman in the top six has managed to score a half century and, ironically, that man Joe Burns will almost certainly lose his spot in the side next week.

The loss in Melbourne was the first instance where no Australian batsman reached fifty in a home Test since 1988.

Specialist batsmen also dropped five regulation catches in the second Test, and the national selection panel may be forced to reinvigorate the starting XI ahead of the New Year’s fixture.

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David Warner and Will Pucovski are on the verge of returning from injury, while Moises Henriques and Marcus Harris have been patiently waiting in the wings.

It would therefore come as no surprise that cricket pundits have called for selectors to swing the axe, and Travis Head has found himself on the chopping block.

Probably time Travis Head’s spot in the team receives a fair bit more discussion. #AUSvsIND

— Daniel Garb (@DanielGarb) December 28, 2020

Travis Head is very fortunate that the attention on Joe Burns is so intense. Never seems to be under any scrutiny. Should be #AUSvsIND

— Martin Pakula (@MartinPakulaMP) December 28, 2020

Travis Head is such a tease.

— Daniel Cherny 📰 (@DanielCherny) December 28, 2020

Head prospered in the Sheffield Shield earlier this season, scoring two gritty centuries for South Australia ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

But the left-hander has struggled to replicate that form in the Australian whites, averaging 20.67 with the bat against India.

The most frustrating aspect of Head’s Test career to date has been his inability to convert starts into large totals.

Far too often he’ll plunder an elegant 30-odd before unnecessarily flashing at a wide delivery and throwing away his wicket.

It was a worrying trend last summer against New Zealand, and he seemingly hasn’t learned from those past failures.

Travis Head of Australia walks off the field after being dismissed by Mohammed Siraj.

During the first Test at Adelaide Oval, Head chipped a half volley straight back to Indian spinner Ravi Ashwin for seven.

In the first innings of the Boxing Day Test, he compiled 38 before firmly prodding at a Jasprit Bumrah delivery without any footwork, giving the gully fielder some catching practice.

Then on Monday, Head once again reached double figures before slashing at a length delivery from debutant Mohammed Siraj, edging the Kookaburra through to the slip cordon.

Former Australian bowler Merv Hughes said on ABC Grandstand: “I’m dumbfounded by that shot when you think about the situation Australia are in.”

ESPNcricinfo reporter Daniel Brettig tweeted: “Head is a long-term investment. The disappointment is that he doesn’t seem to be learning his lessons.”

Speaking to Fox Cricket on Tuesday morning, Australian great Shane Warne thought the 27-year-old had the makings of a successful Test cricketer, but conceded he was “frustrated” by the modes of dismissal.

“The selectors might be getting a little bit frustrated with Travis Head,” Warne said. “I’m getting frustrated as well.

“He’s continually getting out the same way.

“I’m a huge fan of Travis Head — I was hoping he’d be a future Test captain for Australia.

“But I think it’s time to say, ‘You know what, go back to Shield cricket and sort those technique problems out, and then come back in’, and hopefully he’ll get another chance.

“Burns and Head will be on the discussion for the selectors, I would have thought.”

Travis Head of Australia.

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Head’s numbers in Test cricket are by no means horrific — to average 39.75 with the bat after 19 matches is commendable, and ranks him among several modern greats at the same point in their career.

Regardless, former Australian captain Ian Chappell is not convinced that Head is good enough to succeed in the Test arena.

“As a top order batsman, you can’t be vulnerable in so many ways,” Chappell told Wide World of Sports.

“If I’m looking at him as an opponent, I’m thinking there are quite a few ways we can get this guy out.

“He was almost out first ball against the short delivery, he’s got a problem with that, he’s got a problem with nicking into the slips, he has trouble with the spinners, I can see ways there that an off-spinner like Ashwin would be confident in getting him out.

“As a top order batsman, you can’t be vulnerable in that many areas.”

BATTING AVERAGE AFTER 19 TEST MATCHES

Travis Head — 39.75

David Warner — 39.46

Matthew Hayden — 38.74

Michael Clarke — 38.10

Steve Smith — 37.60

Mark Waugh — 34.60

Justin Langer — 32.25

Steve Waugh — 27.56