‘I miss walking out by myself’: Head hints at another opening stint with Weatherald

1 hour ago 1

Travis Head says he misses walking out to bat by himself in Tests, a remark that could be another clue the dashing left-hander is set to partner Jake Weatherald at the top of the order again in Adelaide at the expense of Usman Khawaja.

Since Khawaja went down with a back injury during the first Ashes Test in Perth, ruling him out of game two in Brisbane, Head and Weatherald have averaged 63 in their three opening stands.

As debate intensifies over how Australia should configure their XI for the third Test in Adelaide, starting on Wednesday, Head took part in an extended interview on the Willow Talk podcast ahead of a home game for the South Australian.

Head was asked by former Test wicketkeeper Brad Haddin about the reception he gets walking out to bat in Adelaide, and the vice-captain’s response may provide a hint as to the likely Australian batting order with an Ashes series victory in sight.

“The only thing about opening the batting is I miss walking out by myself,” Head told Haddin and host Adam Peacock. “Alex [Carey] gets to enjoy that because they are very supportive [in Adelaide] and it’s always a great moment that one, walking out to bat.

“If I am doing it [opening the batting] this week again with Jake, we’ll claim him as a South Australian. He came in at an early age, so I think the crowd will be very pumped up to see both of us go out to bat and ‘Kez’ will get the little carpet appearance at [number] six.”

Travis Head (left) and Jake Weatherald during the second Test in Brisbane.

On the issue of team selection, Head said there were mixed emotions but each player respected the selectors’ decisions.

“We move to Adelaide and the team will look different again to try and win an Adelaide Test,” he said. “Everyone is committed to the one cause. We can’t play 15 blokes.

“They’re filthy if they don’t play. There’s no hiding around that. There’s some bloody hard calls, there’s no doubt about that. [Stand-in captain] Steve [Smith] and the coaching staff and the selectors have made some tough calls in the first two Tests, but when you map it out the way they do … it makes those decisions really easy.”

If Head opens again, Khawaja could slide into the middle order – as flagged by coach Andrew McDonald this week – but there is also a chance the 38-year-old does not wear the baggy green again, having not reached triple figures in his past 21 Test innings in Australia.

Jake Weatherald found his feet in Brisbane.

Head gave a glowing endorsement of Weatherald, a former South Australian teammate.

“I’ve missed him for the last couple of years [while he has been playing for Tasmania],” Head said. “He’s a deep thinker, and he’s up there with Marnus [Labuschagne] and Steve [Smith] ... in terms of hitting balls; he just grinds away.

“I think he’s handled Test cricket really well with the style of bowling he’s facing; it’s hostile and fast. Each of the England guys are bowling high speeds, which you don’t get a lot of in one team.

“He’s a great bloke. With our relationship over the years, we’ve just gelled … and it’s like we’re batting [for South Australia] again.”

Head’s blazing hundred in Perth set up victory for Australia. He backed that up with 33 and 22 in Brisbane, scores he said left him frustrated but hungry to make amends in front of family and friends.

“I had a bit of luck in the first innings where I nicked one and got dropped,” he said. “Post that, I felt like I put pressure back on the opposition ... and set a really good platform with Jake and the guys behind us.

“The scoreline’s gone to plan, which is good. It’s a nice feeling coming to Adelaide with a chance [to retain the Ashes].”

As for the Smith and Jofra Archer battle – which ignited again during Australia’s run chase at the Gabba – Head said Adelaide is likely to provide another tantalising chapter.

“If that match-up comes first day in Adelaide, I know how Jofra operates,” Head said. “He’s a competitor and there’s no doubt [in] this series he’s wanted to try and get Smudge [out] as much as he can.

“They’ve got a competitive thing going on at the moment. Let’s see in three Tests time [how it’s going]. The heat of it will die, given we’ve got an eight-day break, but the motivation will be there.

“You want to start well on that first morning. That’s everyone’s priority, to be ready to go in Adelaide.”