Travis Head to fail as opener in India vs Australia Tests? Ex-Australian skipper warns Pat Cummins

Former Australian captain Ian Chappell has warned against using Travis Head as an opener in the upcoming five-match Test series against India.

Ian Chappell said that Travis Head won't be successful as an opener in Test cricket despite his unbridled success facing the new ball in limited-overs formats.

Australia is currently facing a conundrum of finding an opening partner for Usman Khawaja for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

This dilemma comes following David Warner's retirement from Test cricket. Steve Smith and Travis Head as possible candidates for the much-awaited Test series.

Travis Head Opening In Test Cricket Is Based On - Ian Chappell

In his column for ESPNCricinfo, Ian Chappell said that Travis Head's aggressive style won't be successful in Test cricket. Chappell added that Head's success in shorter formats does not guarantee similar performance in the longer format.

"Head opening in Test cricket is based on his unbridled success facing the new ball in both 50-over and T20 cricket. There's no doubt Head, with his ultra-aggressive style, is the ideal player to open in the two short forms of the game. However, Test cricket is an entirely different proposition," Chappell wrote.

Travis Head has succeeded as an opener in limited-overs cricket. The left-handed batter has amassed 1,745 runs in 36 ODIs and 774 runs in 22 T20Is.

While he has batted at the top of the order in white-ball formats, Head has also been a reliable middle-order batter at No. 5 for Australia in Test cricket.

Steve Smith's experience in the middle order could be crucial in the upcoming series against India. Smith has taken on the opening role in Tests following David Warner's retirement. However, the right-handed batter has scored 171 runs in eight innings at an average of 28.50 with one half-century.

Designed To Unsettle Jasprit Bumrah - Ian Chappell

Ian Chappell highlighted that the opening batters will face more challenges of Test cricket compared to shorter formats. The former cricketer said that promoting Head could be either desperation or adventurousness.

"The fielding side employing extra catching fielders and being able to unleash a preferred bowler for longer periods makes opening much tougher in Test cricket," he said.

"Any move to open with Head that is designed to unsettle Jasprit Bumrah is asking a lot of the batter. Bumrah, and to a lesser extent Mohammad Siraj, are unlikely to be battered into altering their attacking mentality," said Chappell.

Ashwin Is Unlikely To Be Panicked - Ian Chappell

The 81-year-old said that Travis Head could face difficulties against quality off-spin. Chappell added that Ravichandran Ashwin is unlikely to be panicked by Head's ultra-aggressive approach, adding that the Indian skipper might use the off-spinner strategically with the new ball.

"The wily R Ashwin is unlikely to be panicked by an opponent's ultra-aggressive approach. The argument could be mounted that opening with Head means he'd be more settled facing Ashwin with some runs on the board. On the other hand, a smart opposing captain can utilize the offspinner with a newish ball."

"Amongst any argument to use Head as a Test match opener, there's a compelling counterpoint," said Chappell.

Also read: Sunil Gavaskar calls Gautam Gambhir's fans 'foot-lickers', credits Rohit Sharma for India's aggressive approach