Head takes pride in carrying Australia's run-scoring load
The hosts’ leading run-getter in the ongoing Ashes series opens up on stepping up in his new role with the bat.
Aided by a magnificent 163 from Travis Head, hosts Australia offered a strong response to England in the first innings of the Sydney Test.
Coming in to bat after England piled on 384, Head laid the groundwork for Australia finishing Day 3 at 518/7.
His latest knock having helped him to the 600-run mark in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship series, Head conceded his emotions on a stellar run with the bat.
“It’s nice to contribute the way I have in the series like this,” he told the reporters. "I am not normally the one who is doing the heavy lifting as such."
“The likes of Marnus (Labuschagne) or Smudge (Steve Smith) have been the heavy lifters. The guys who have really driven the game. Davey (David Warner) in the past as well.
“I have been very lucky to bat around those guys. Nice that I have put a finger out and help them out on the other side. But yeah, I wouldn't have come in the series thinking that I will have a series that I have.”
Head has amassed 600 runs from nine innings so far in the series, averaging 66.67 with three hundreds to his name.
A series-defining moment for Australia came in the first Test in Perth, when Head was promoted to the opening spot. The swashbuckling left-hander immediately repaid the faith of the management with a match-winning ton.
Asked if he believes his runs as a Test opener now seals the spot for him, Head replied that there is still time for the two-time WTC finalists to take that call.
“We have got a lot of time, haven't we? Right now, you sit here and go, yeah, the next test we play, I will have come off a hundred while opening the batting. It's probably got to look likely.
“But this role and order and where we think guys are going to match up and where we are going to fit the guys in, I think is still where my head's at.
“And I think with the leadership of the group and the selectors, we have been pretty open about that. How we match up and how we want to best suit this team. This series is the most important thing right now.”
Travis Head the hero with critical century - POTM Highlights | WTC23 Final
Player of the Match: Australia batter Travis Head earned the POTM award following his decisive 163 runs in the first innings of the ICC World Test Championship Final 2023 against India
Casting his sight back to the promotion up the order in the Perth Test, Head added, “I feel it was the right call in Perth to go that way, very pleased that I was able to get an opportunity to do that.
“There are never guarantees that I'm going to get the job done but I feel like it helped set our team really well.
“We'll have time to reflect on this series, to plan for Bangladesh, South Africa and New Zealand, what is a heavy red-ball part once we get to next year.
“Masterminds will go to work and set the team up how they think we are going to best be able to win Test matches. Otherwise said, I'm happy either ways.”
Australia currently lead 3-1 in the ongoing five-Test series, and sit atop the WTC standings with six wins from seven Tests in this cycle so far.
Ashes schedule:
First Test: Perth Stadium, November 21-22 (Australia won by eight wickets)
Second Test: Gabba, December 4-7 (Australia won by eight wickets)
Third Test: Adelaide Oval, December 17-21 (Australia won by 82 runs)
Fourth Test: MCG, December 26-30 (England won by 4 wickets)
Fifth Test: SCG, January 4-8
