Test Cricket Away From Home Is Where You're Truly Tested, Asserts Travis Head
Published - 20 Feb 2022, 11:31 AM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:04 AM
Australia batter Travis Head said that the real challenge for any player is to perform in the away conditions in Test cricket.
Head was the leading run-scorer in the Ashes against England, he accumulated 357 runs from six innings at an average of 59.50. The South Australian batter made 152 from 148 balls in the Ashes opener in Brisbane as Australia won by nine wickets in just four days. Head missed the fourth Test in Sydney after testing positive for COVID-19.
Test cricket away from home is where you’re truly tested: Travis Head
Head was unavailable for selection in the first three T20 International matches against Sri Lanka as he played a Sheffield Shield match for South Australia in order to prepare for the upcoming Test series in Pakistan. Head has played six Test matches away from Australia and two of them were in the United Arab Emirates against Pakistan in 2018, he scored 122 runs from four innings at an average of 30.50 in the Gulf region.
The South Australian skipper said that success in overseas conditions depends on the approach of a player, citing the example of former Australian skipper Steve Smith.
“Test cricket away from home is where you’re truly tested, and having done that in England and finding just how difficult it can be … it’s the way you respond to the challenge of travelling that probably makes you the cricketer you are,” Head told cricket.com.au.
“You look at someone like Smithy (Steve Smith) who goes to India and plays as well as he has anywhere, and then there are players from the past like Michael Clarke and Matthew Hayden who go on tours and just dominate. It raises them to a whole new level,” he added.
I’m not trying to chase that challenge: Travis Head
Head is part of Australia’s squad for the Pakistan tour, the Australian middle-order batter won’t take enough pressure to chase the challenge of enhancing in the subcontinent region and is in constant touch with experts for their valuable advice to play in those tricky conditions.
“That’s obviously the challenge, but I’m not trying to chase that challenge or do something that I know I’m not capable of doing. I’ll have a really good, sound game plan, talk to the coaches, talk to the experienced guys who maybe know the conditions a bit more and try and lean into as much knowledge as I can to prepare myself,” he said.
Australia will play the first Test against Pakistan at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, the match begins on March 4. Australia will play three Tests, three ODI matches and a lone T20I fixture in their month-long tour to Pakistan.
