BGT: Shastri Calls Head 'Hard to Contain' as He Hits Peak Performance
Click to start listening
New Delhi, Dec 21 (NationPress) Former India head coach Ravi Shastri expressed that Travis Head is currently in the best form of his career, describing him as 'hard to contain.' He noted that the left-handed batsman’s proficiency against short balls has been a key highlight.
Although Head was dismissed for only 11 runs in his first innings of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, he rebounded spectacularly with scores of 89, 140, and 152 in his subsequent three innings. Previously, he also hit centuries against India in the 2023 World Test Championship final and the ODI World Cup final, contributing to Australia’s victories.
“He is very astute. From what I observed three years back, he has made tremendous improvements, particularly in dealing with short deliveries. He has learned to leave them effectively,” noted Shastri.
“It isn’t always about playing big shots off deliveries angled at his armpits. He is prepared to either ride the delivery or go for the aggressive shots. If the ball is pitched in the right area, he can strike it in front of square as well.”
“His ability to pick up length is impressive, and that is one of his significant strengths. He has a quick blade for offside shots, making him a challenging player to contain. He is truly in the form of his life,” Shastri remarked on The ICC Review show.
Despite being dismissed by India’s leading fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, Head managed to score 83 runs from 91 balls against him. Shastri recalled a particular cover drive played by Head off Bumrah early in one of his innings, which indicated that the left-handed batsman was in excellent form.
“We all recognized his potential, but that first cover drive he executed off Jasprit Bumrah from the front foot was impressive. It was a good delivery, but it showed me that he was in prime form,” he added.
“He continued to demonstrate that. What stands out about him is his clear mindset. There’s no confusion in his approach. He understands his strengths and plays accordingly. He may adjust his aggression based on the game’s state, but he remains focused on his game plan,” Shastri concluded.
Shastri humorously suggested a new nickname for Head: “Travis Head ‘ache’. People in India are looking for balms for foot and ankle issues, and even headaches, so he fits perfectly.”
The current five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy series is tied at 1-1, with Australia and India set to face off in the fourth match, the Boxing Day Test, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on December 26.
