Australian speed legend Shane Warne said Travis Head “could be a future Australia captain” but at the moment, he should go back to domestic cricket and work on his batting as he doesn’t want to see him in the national Test squad given his poor form in the ongoing Test series against India.
He further said Head really needs to work on his “strokes” and “technique deficiency” after the left-hander could manage just 7, 38, and 17 in the ongoing four-Test home series against India.
Warne told Fox Cricket: “We know what a talent he (Head) is, he's probably a future captain. He still could be, but he's got to get in the side first, and at the moment I wouldn't have him in the side. He's got a little technique deficiency he needs to sort out first.”
On the other hand, former Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds also agreed with Warne's thoughts on Head saying the 27-year-old is struggling for confidence at the moment and playing just tentative shots.
Symonds said: “With Travis, he's probably just got to go back (to domestic cricket) and really work on how he commits (to strokes). They're just tentative shots, you can see the disappointment as he turns and walks off and thinks 'it was just a nothing shot'.”
He added, “When you're playing for your position, this is when you really get tested mentally. Can you clear your mind and really play in a positive (mindset), every shot you play it's got to be positive even when you're defending and he just looks a little bit tentative at the moment. He seems to be struggling confidence-wise just to how hard he's going to commit and build his innings in his first 20 to 30 runs.”
Meanwhile, Warne went with Marcus Harris as David Warner’s opening partner while Symonds went with young Will Pucovski for the upcoming third Test starting January 7 in Sydney.
Warne said: “With the Indian attack and given Australia has only made 300 once in at least six Test matches against India, I want two proper openers and I've gone for two left-handers.”
He signed off by saying, “With (Jasprit) Bumrah and the way the Indians bowl, I think it's really important to have left-handers. Then it came down to Matthew Wade or Head and I'm a bit frustrated with Travis Head because he's getting out the same way all the time. Wade doesn't deserve to be dropped.”
(With PTI Inputs)
