BGT: Ponting Sees Similarities Between Head's Style and Gilchrist's
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New Delhi, Dec 13 (NationPress) Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting is confident that left-handed batsman Travis Head is on track to establish himself as one of the batting legends of contemporary cricket.
Head was awarded Player of the Match after an impressive 140 runs off 141 balls, leading Australia to a ten-wicket victory against India during the day-night Test at the Adelaide Oval, thus leveling the five-match series at 1-1.
Over the past 18 months, Head has proven to be a significant challenge for India, scoring a remarkable 163 in the 2023 World Test Championship final and a crucial 137 in the ODI World Cup final later that same year.
“He’s on the right path to becoming one of those greats. I wouldn’t label him a great just yet, which is not a criticism of his performance—what he’s achieving has been nothing short of spectacular. Many times, it’s been at critical moments when his team has needed him the most,” Ponting stated during the ICC Review show.
He also likened Head’s approach to that of his former teammate, the explosive wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist, who revolutionized aggressive batting as a left-hander during Australia’s dominant era in the early 2000s.
“The clear comparison is Gilly. The way Head approaches the game is very much reminiscent of how Gilchrist played, although he bats a couple of spots higher in the order. Gilly typically batted at six or seven, while Travis is making his impact at No.5.
“I enjoy watching him play from the sidelines. It’s refreshing to see players take that approach. Regardless of the match situation, Travis consistently plays with the same intent, and I admire that,” Ponting added.
“Travis’s mindset is what enables him to perform at this level. He’s not afraid of failure. He doesn’t dwell on negative outcomes; he focuses solely on the positive results of his actions,” Ponting concluded.
