SL vs AUS | Travis Head expecting a bigger role with the ball in the second Test

Australian batter Travis Head on Saturday (July 2) reflected on his dismissal and his match-turning spell in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.

Australia completely outplayed Sri Lanka in the first Test of the two-match Test series and won the game by ten wickets. One of the architects of the victory was Head. Although he couldn't contribute much with the bat in the first innings scoring just six before he was caught and bowled off Dhananjaya de Silva's off-spin, but he bowled his best ever spell (4/10) in the second innings to help his team register their first win in Galle after 11 years.

The left-handed batter's primary role is to give solidity at number 5 and Head accepted the failure in the only innings he batted in the first Test and said he'll try to execute his plans better when he'll come out to bat in the second Test at the same venue. 

"I made a mistake, simple as that," Head said. "I was a bit square on it, a ball spinning away, something I didn't want to have in my plans. It's either straight back to the bowler or you try and sweep it. So in saying that I didn't want to be doing it, he drew it out of me.

"The way I trained, the way I prepared in the morning before I went out to bat, very positive around that. Talking to the people closest to me, I just need to keep doubling down on that plan and keep backing it in and trying to execute it."

Head came on to bowl in the 19th over of Sri Lanka's second innings, with the hosts already struggling at 95-4. He got his maiden Test wicket in the form of Dinesh Chandimal in the second ball of his spell, and after that, there was no stopping him as he finished with the best bowling returns of 4/10.

Talking about his off-spin bowling, Head said he was aware he has to play his part with the ball, and going forward; he's expecting a bigger role in the second Test.

"It was a waiting game for a few days before the Test, and bowling was a big part of that. I knew I was going to have a role at some point but the two spinners, all the bowlers, did a fantastic job for myself and Marnus (Labuschagne) not to be needed at all," Head said of his bowling.

"It's going to be a huge part of the next Test. I expected to bowl (in the first Test) but maybe not at that stage of the game," added Head.