Allan Border urges Travis Head to follow Hayden's blueprint during the India tour

Former Australian captain and legendary Test batter Allan Border has asked Travis Head to improve his batting against spin and follow Matthew Hayden’s style of play to be successful in the Test series against India in 2023. 

Head had a career defining Ashes 2021-22, where the left-hander scored 357 runs at an average of almost 60, including two centuries and won the player of the series. However, he could not maintain his form on the Pakistan and Sri Lanka tours, scoring just 91 runs at an average of 15.17.

“Head needs to learn how to play the turning ball,” says Border

Australia have not won a single Test series in India since 2004. With the Pat Cummins-led side desperate to end their losing streak in the next tour to India in 2023, Border has advised Head to improve his batting against spin to survive in the subcontinent conditions.

While speaking at Queensland Cricket’s ‘Buy a Picket’ campaign at the new Allan Border Field, Border said:

“He's got to sit down and work out a method better than it's going at the moment. I've talked to him a little bit about batting on spinning wickets. He's got to learn how to sweep, and sweep well. And he's got to use his feet. people don't seem to be prepared to go down the track, and defend even".

Border, who himself mastered batting in the subcontinent during his playing days, scored 1799 runs at a staggering average of 54.51, praised Head as a quality batter and the only thing he needs to work on is his batting against the turning ball.

“He's a very good player against anything other than the turning ball. That's the chink he's got to work on. We're going to go to the subcontinent a lot so if he wants to be in the frame, he needs to learn how to play the turning ball," he said.

“Follow the footsteps of Hayden,” Border added

Border further urged Head to emulate Hayden’s approach against spin during the India tour next year.

Hayden had a record-breaking series against India back in 2001, scoring 549 runs at an average of 110. The former opener scored 1663 at an average of 50.39 in Asia throughout his Test career. Only Border himself and Ponting scored more runs than the Queenslander in the subcontinent in their respective careers. 

“Hayden's a great example,” Border added. 

"You're talking about a kid who batted in the Gabba five games a year, then the WACA, and Sydney which was the only place that really (gave you a chance to bat) against a spin bowler.

“He just developed a fantastic sweep shot, and it's a hard shot, because if you do get it wrong and you get hit on the pad, with the DRS now … these days you get given out playing sweeps, whereas going back in time you didn't necessarily get given out,” he concluded. 

Read: Allan Border in favour of natural ball tampering.