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"Just trying...": Travis Head speaks about 2nd Ashes Test role despite Perth hundred as opener

Harsh Adwani

Travis Head unsure of his batting position [Source: @SunRisers/x.com]Travis Head unsure of his batting position [Source: @SunRisers/x.com]

Travis Head will be the player to watch out for when Australia and England meet in Brisbane for the second Test of the ongoing Ashes. His blistering century in the first Test in Perth helped Australia take a 1-0 lead in the series. Head’s 83-ball 123 while chasing 205 runs on a difficult track was nothing short of a masterclass.

However, despite his knock as an opener, he is unsure where he would bat in the 2nd Test. The left-handed batter believes he can bat at any position the team requires him to and revealed that his batting position for the 2nd Test is still on the table.

"I'm a player I feel like can play any role. I am open to it, and it's just trying to work out in the game and in moments when that may come out. I feel all options are on the table and have been for a long period of time about where this team can potentially get better," he said, as quoted by Yahoo News.

Recalling his performance in the first Test, he said that he was happy with how he paced his innings and that his approach wouldn’t be too dissimilar if he opens on Day 1 in the next game. Head had scored just three runs in the first 14 balls that he faced. And once England barraged him with bouncers, he switched gears and went on to score a century in just 69 balls.

"I think moments of it I wouldn't see as too dissimilar. It is all about risk evaluation and where you might lose your wicket or percentages in your favour. I have always tried to work in percentages in my favour. I was really pleased with my first 30 or 40 balls, and then we see the bouncer plan. I think my mindset would have been positive in the first innings. The way I went through my gears in my innings is a great blueprint for me moving forward with balls pitched up and then the short-pitched plan," he said.

Usman Khawaja’s availability remains a question

Meanwhile, Australia’s regular opener Usman Khawaja’s availability for the second Test is still not confirmed. The 38-year-old suffered back spasms in Perth, which kept him away from opening.

While he believes he is fit to open once again, the team management has not yet confirmed anything. Add to that his recent form, where he has scored just two fifties in the last 27 innings, and it wouldn’t be surprising if Head continues to open.