Head Discusses His Batting Evolution Amid Ongoing Success
Click to start listening
Melbourne, Dec 21 (NationPress) Australia batter Travis Head opened up about the mental shift that facilitated his resurgence after a period of poor performance, grappling with self-doubt, and being dropped from the Australian team following the Boxing Day Test versus India in 2020.
Fast forward to today, Head's remarkable comeback is underscored by his consecutive centuries in the current Border-Gavaskar Trophy. As Australia and India gear up for the pivotal fourth Test, with the series tied at 1-1, Head has emerged as one of Australia’s most critical players— a stark contrast to the batter who left the MCG with uncertainty clouding his future.
Head's difficulties during the 2020 Boxing Day Test are well recorded. He fell victim to edges outside off-stump, scoring 38 and 17, as Australia suffered an eight-wicket defeat. Subsequently, he lost his place to debutant Will Pucovski in the following Test, raising doubts regarding Head's competency in Test cricket.
“I lost my (national) contract and then went to Sussex, and I stunk it up there as well,” Head remarked in an interview with ABC News. “I tried to maintain my batting style, but it just wasn’t effective.”
It was during a match against Kent at Canterbury, towards the end of his Sussex tenure, that Head encountered a transformative moment.
“In one of my final games at Sussex, I scored 49 off 46 in the second innings, and I thought, I am just going to slog.’ And I did well, so I thought, ‘Why don’t I just do that?’”
This innings, driven by frustration and newfound freedom, marked a turning point in his career. Head's change in mindset became evident when he was called back for the 2021/22 Ashes series. Since then, his performances have been exceptional. Over 33 Tests since his comeback, he has maintained an average of 46.71, achieved nine centuries, and secured the Player-of-the-Match title eight times.
His impact in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy has been particularly noteworthy. In the first three Tests, Head has accumulated 409 runs at an impressive average of 81.80, including centuries in both Adelaide and Brisbane. These displays have cemented his status as one of Australia’s pivotal players.
Reflecting on his evolution, he stated, “I used to worry about my technique. My belief was that if I could remain at the crease long enough, my aggressive style would take over, leading to runs.”
“Now, I focus on scoring runs rather than the fear of getting out. If I can score, I will; if not, I’ll position myself well to avoid getting dismissed. I’m now more concerned about runs than anything else.”
