Warner says Head can open for Aussies permanently – and they discussed it years ago

Perth: David Warner believes Travis Head can open the batting for Australia long-term and has lifted the lid on how the man who destroyed England in Perth wanted to go to the top of the order when Warner retired.

Australia have not had a settled opening combination since Warner finished up with the series against Pakistan in January 2024, but Usman Khawaja’s back spasms resulted in Head putting his hand up to accompany Jake Weatherald in the second innings in Perth and go on to play one of the greatest innings in Test history.

David Warner and Travis Head during their days opening together.Credit: Getty

The flurry of shots from Head left England shell-shocked, and Warner said there was no doubt that the 31-year-old Test team vice-captain had the capacity to take on the role on a regular basis.

“He definitely did think about it and I definitely do think he can do it,” Warner told this masthead. “The thing is in Australian cricket is we haven’t really had an opener to cement that position. I think he could do that job, and we’ve seen first hand here what he can do.

“Is he going to be consistent? I think he can be, it’s the match-winning performances that are the ones you’ve got to look at. Then it’s upon the selectors to have the confidence to stick with him and do that.”

As far back as 2022, Head and Warner had discussed the possibility of the younger man taking over at the top. But at the time, wider team balance issues led to captain Pat Cummins and the selectors believing that in Australia, at least, Head was better off at No.5.

“Travis has opened in white-ball cricket, which has been fantastic and good for him and he’s capable of doing that,” Warner said. “But Australia also had Mitch Marsh not in the team at the time [in 2022] and you had someone like Travis Head coming in to turn the tables.

“From that standpoint you’ve now got Cameron Green, you had Beau Webster as well. But eventually if that opening spot does come open, I don’t see why he can’t do it. You do need a person at one end who absorbs as well and that’s where it’s complemented myself at the other end.

“I’ve been able to play the way I have because the guys at the other end have held their position and we haven’t lost wickets. If you lose two wickets very early, then you open up a can of worms for your three and four. That’s also a position you’ve got to protect.”

Speaking after his innings on Saturday night, Head explained his part in talks about the opening spot over the past three years, particularly after Warner had retired.

“We went around in circles a little bit once Steve had a crack at it,” Head said. “And each time I sort of just put my name in and said, ‘Why not?’

Travis Head with Steve Smith after his Perth masterpiece.Credit: AP

“I do it in other formats. Could there be an opportunity to do what Davey had done? We were sort of looking for that role, someone to go out there and be a bit more aggressive.

“I’ve done it in international cricket a bit now. So I brewed the idea – but I can also see that [Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith and Head] three, four and five has worked pretty well. But I’m always putting my hand up.”

Watching Head’s innings as a Fox Cricket commentator, Warner also argued that England got their plans wrong by dropping short too soon, rather than challenging Head’s outside edge and stumps.

“I feel like as an opening batsman you’re not being challenged enough [if the bowlers bowl short] and he has been in the fortunate position where he wasn’t challenged as much for a long period,” Warner said. “There’s also that element to wondering if he can do that.

“The England bowlers would’ve thought they’d be able to put up their feet and have a rest and not even have that mindset of bowling. There’s a lot of other factors that go into Test cricket where your mind is switched off. Obviously you do get batting collapses, but I just thought they weren’t expecting Trav to open and weren’t quick enough to adapt to what plans to bowl.”

As for Khawaja, Warner said that back spasms were an occupational hazard for batsmen, and related that in his own experience it took about five days to settle down.

“It just depends on how your body reacts, I know myself L4, L5 it goes twice a year, five days minimum for me and that’s not doing anything,” Warner said.

“It’s obviously a bit of a spasm, so for him it’s about resting up, having some anti-inflammatories, getting some pushing, some cupping and we’ll see how his body reacts to it.”

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