Travis Head says he won’t move to Test opener to replace retiring David Warner

There are calls for Travis Head to move to opener in place of the retiring David Warner and now the World Cup hero has set the record straight.

Travis Head will not be moving from the middle order as part of any rejigging of the Australian batting lineup once David Warner vacates his opening post, with the South Australian joining those suggesting it is a specialist role that should be filled by one of Warner’s understudies.

Head has been a revelation at the top of the order in one-day cricket, most notably in the World Cup semi-final and final. He also had some success in the position during a cameo stint alongside Usman Khawaja in Warner’s absence during the back half of the Indian Test tour at the start of the year.

With Warner having three Tests to play at most, Australian selectors are contemplating bringing Cameron Green back into the team as Warner’s replacement, and then redeploying one of the side’s batters to partner Khawaja.

Green, Mitch Marsh, Head and Marnus Labuschagne have all been floated as options, but Head said that all indications suggested he would remain at No.5, where he has been largely dominant since returning to the Test arena two summers ago.

Head also hinted he would like to see one of Matt Renshaw, Cameron Bancroft or Marcus Harris get the nod once Warner retires following the third Test against Pakistan in January.

Travis Head will drop back to the middle order for Australia’s Tests. Picture: AFP

“The conversations I’ve had is that it won’t happen, it won’t be in that spot. They’re happy with me in the middle order,” Head said.

“I think it is a specialist job and I think the guys that have been waiting to get into the team for a while, they deserve I think the first crack at it. But the conversations are ongoing with everyone. The only one for me is a conversation around the subcontinent.

“When you’ve got someone who’s locked in, who’s doing well, you don’t want to change that. So I don’t see myself moving around too much in the future and I think we have a pretty settled team. Once I guess Davey’s time comes to an end and that makes an opportunity…what we are now is a very settled XI.”

Khawaja has also said the opening role should go to one of the chasing pack rather than a current member of the side.

Head raced back from a broken hand to play a central role in Australia’s World Cup win last month and conceded he was still not fully right.

Travis Head prepares in Perth for the first Test of the summer. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

“It’s not 100 per cent,” Head said.

“But I think it’s getting close. I’m still restricted on training, (have) stiffness and soreness, etc. Had a hit yesterday, don’t train today, probably tomorrow and then see how I’m feeling with only a top-up on that next day but most likely it’ll be very short if anything, to just make sure I’m prepared to play.

“But it’s getting close, it’s getting there. Again, I’ve said training is a little bit restricted and a little bit sore but in game time I haven’t felt it once, other than the first few games.”

Blindsided Carey reveals silver lining in surprise axing

Alex Carey was blindsided by his World Cup omission but insists his self-belief has not wavered through a challenging back half of 2023.

The Australian wicketkeeper’s batting form tailed away across through the latter stages of the Ashes tour and the one-dayers that preceded this year’s World Cup, culminating in the South Australian being dropped for Josh Inglis just one match into Australia’s ultimately triumphant tournament.

Alex Carey preparing for the first Test against Pakistan in Perth. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Carey’s drop-off in runs followed his controversial stumping of England’s Jonny Bairstow on day five of the Lord’s Test, although Carey has refused to publicly blame the fallout from that moment on his decline.

Instead, Carey, who was subjected to vile social media abuse in the aftermath of the dismissal, said he was comfortable with the stumping continuing to generate conversation more than five months on from the incident.

“I have seen that it’s still being brought up which is great because it’s a talking point, it’s awesome. But nah, it’s one of those things that I guess will stay in cricket history for a while,” Carey said at the launch of the home Test summer on Monday.

Carey – who had been a mainstay of Australia’s one-day side for the previous five years – said he had not expected his axing so early in the tournament

“Yeah, I was surprised. Obviously really disappointed to lose my spot there but yeah, I guess once that was that news was delivered (my mindset was to) I guess process it, try to learn from it, and then go to work in the nets,” Carey said.

“The silver lining is I had a mini-pre-season over there as well as always being ready to play but was able to I guess pick your game apart and work with some new faces and different minds in the game. Having (former Zimbabwean great and Australian consultant) Andy Flower over there was great as well. So yeah, at the time, I was surprised.”

Yet despite the battles of the year, Carey is adamant his confidence had not been affected.

Carey says he didn’t see his World Cup axing coming. Picture: Punit PARANJPE / AFP

Australian coach Andrew McDonald and Carey this week. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

“No my self-belief’s always been really strong. All I can do is sort of control what I can do. And yeah, continue to prepare and find ways to get better. But yeah, I’m excited to get out there and play,” Carey said.

Australian selectors have made it clear that Carey remains their primary Test wicketkeeper ahead of Inglis, albeit coach Andrew McDonald made a similar remark about Carey’s one-day spot only a week before Carey was dropped in India.

For his part, Carey says he wasn’t concerned he would lose his Test spot, but was determined to step up his game beginning with the first Test against Pakistan, beginning on Thursday.

“The messaging around it wasn’t (that the Test spot is in jeopardy). I feel like the last couple of years (in Test cricket have) been pretty solid. Still trying to continue to improve and learn and get better. But no, I think yeah, coming back here and getting a (Sheffield) Shield game in was a great way to prepare for this first Test match.”

Veteran opener Usman Khawaja backed Carey to find his best.

“The boys love having Alex in the team. He’s a legend, such a good guy. Got a beautiful family, plays the game in really good spirits and very good wicketkeeper and very good batsman,” Khawaja said.

“I don’t really buy into much of the other stuff (around criticism of Carey). Honestly, it’s just probably because I’ve been through it that I know it’s just part and parcel with the game. Just is what it is. I expect him to just go out and do his job, do it well and hopefully, we’ll win some big games and don’t look too much, far ahead. I assume he’ll be the same. I haven’t really talked to him about it because I don’t think it’s a thing worth talking about.”

Originally published as Travis Head says he won’t move to Test opener to replace retiring David Warner