Travis Head could take on a different role in India, hints chief selector George Bailey

Travis Head in action in Gabba Test [Source: Twitter]

Travis Head recently established himself as one of the mainstays of Australia batting in both Tests and One-Day Internationals (ODI). Head's performances in red-ball cricket have been phenomenal this year, scoring 604 runs at an average of 50.33 with two centuries and as many fifties.

While most of his runs have been in Australian conditions, his record on away tours, especially on the Indian subcontinent, suffers. The left-handed batter's average stands at 21.30, which is the third-lowest for a top-order Australian batter, and his tour to Pakistan and Sri Lanka displayed a lot of glaring flaws in his technique against spinners. 

Australia's current chief selector and former player George Bailey hinted at how Head's role in the side could change when the Baggy Greens tour India early next year. 

According to FOX Sports, Bailey said that Pat Cummins is running the team quite capably and the side is very adaptive.

Here's what Bailey said

"I think he (Head) has spoken to the fact he hasn’t been exposed to those conditions a great deal. And you can talk about it and try and replicate it but until you’ve actually been there and played on those types of wickets, that’s the only way, or certainly the fastest way of getting better in those conditions.

"Pat is driving this team to be very, very adaptable. So I think there are opportunities for players in the XI to play different roles at different times as well. So whether that’s the same for Travis in subcontinent tours, wait and see.”

Head will be seen in action on Monday in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, when Australia face South Africa in second match of the ongoing series. 

Also Read: Dean Elgar hints at possible playing XI for Boxing Day Test