Cricket
Exclusive: Travis Head Should Be Able to Enjoy Middle-Order Freedom, says Ian Healy
Former Australian wicketkeeper Ian Healy believes Travis Head should retain the No. 5 spot, enjoying middle-order freedom, as Australia prepares for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India this November in Perth.
Image Credits: Pankaj Nangia-ICC/ICC via Getty Image
Former Australia wicketkeeper-batsman Healy feels Head should retain the No. 5 spot even if Smith drops down to No. 4 in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India starting November in Perth.
David Warner's retirement left a vacuum in the Australian top order. Steve Smith, who earlier batted at No. 4, moved up to partner Usman Khawaja in four Tests earlier this year but could not create an impact. The lack of a seasoned opener is once again the talking point ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India that starts November 22 in Perth.
As an opener, Smith's average reads 28.50 and a best score of 91 not out against the West Indies in Brisbane in January. Since then, he recorded scores of 31, 0, 11 and 9 in the two Tests against New Zealand in Wellington and Christchurch respectively.
Several names are being discussed as his possible replacement, especially Marnus Labuschagne, who bats at No. 3 and Travis Head, known for attacking knocks in the opening spot in white-ball cricket. Khawaja suggested that Head could be an option.
Why not Travis Head?
Former Australia wicketkeeper-batsman Ian Healy feels Head perhaps is not the best option as Test opener, and a youngster from domestic cricket could break in.
"I think there is a reluctance from Travis to go up, which I would agree with. He is a much more scary proposition when the ball isn't doing as much. He should be able to enjoy middle-order freedom. I feel Cameron Green or Mitch Marsh might have been good options, and we know Marnus can do that job, but he is also valuable at No. 3,” Healy told SportsBoom.com.
"I also like Smith opening the batting. Maybe more than he does (laughs).”
Australia will wait and see what happens next month in first-class cricket; if a young opening batsman could force his way into the side, or we have to promote from within.”.
Ian Healy
Smith has been Australia's best batter. He scored 19 centuries and 26 fifties at No. 4 at an average of 61.50 and could be keen to move back to his original spot. Last December, even Marsh had revealed he prefers to bat at No. 6.
Healy reasoned the problem arose once Australia was keen to retain both all-rounders, Green and Marsh, in the XI.
"Now Green has a back injury. The pressure might be off and Marsh might go out and open, and Smith drops down to 4 with Marnus and Head on either side. I am not sure who would bat No. 6. Australia is generally proud of their bat and ball options," added Healy, who wore the Baggy Green in 119 Tests between 1988 and 1999.
There is still no clarity on Green's recovery, who dazzled at the No. 4 spot, with an unbeaten 174 against the Kiwis in Wellington.
How to beat India
India emerged victorious in their last two series Down Under. Australia is hungry to stop the winning streak. "We have to get back to absolute basics. If we get a start, the batsmen need to put up a big score and sustain pressure with the ball while being patient for the wickets against good teams.”
“It is no longer rare that India doesn't win here. It has been way too long since we have beaten India at home. It is an impressive record that Australia needs to stop," said Healy, who is third in the list of most dismissals (395) by a wicketkeeper in Tests.”
Healy played with World Cup-winning captains Allan Border and Steve Waugh. He believes Pat Cummins could turn the tide against India after winning the World Test Championship. "He is calm and balanced in his approach to cricket and life in general. I like what he has done as captain."
Wriddhaayan Bhattacharyya is a cricket journalist based in India who takes a keen interest in stories that unfold on and off the field. His expertise lies in news writing, features and profiles, interviews, stats, and numbers-driven stories. He has also worked as a podcaster and talk show host on cricket-related shows on YouTube and Spotify.