Ian Chappell Slams Travis Ahead After Another Poor Outing Against India

The axe might increasingly be hovering around Joe Burns ahead of the third Test; however, former Australian captain Ian Chappell has his sights set on Travis Head. Ian Chappell has expressed his unhappiness with Travis Head’s selection as Australia lost the second Test by eight wickets to India. The third Test begins on the 3rd of January at the SCG.

Travis Head, who scored a century in the Boxing Day Test of 2019 against New Zealand, has endured a tough time against India like many other Australian batsmen. So far in three innings, the southpaw has scores of 7, 38, and 17, which signifies the failure to convert his starts to big scores that the hosts desperately need. In 19 Tests, Head has 1153 runs at 39.76 with two centuries and seven fifties.

Ian Chappell pointed out that at any point, he hasn’t been convinced that Travis Head was good enough to play Test cricket. Unlike many top-notch top-order batsmen, Chappell feels that the 27-year old has plenty of weakness and one couldn’t be so much vulnerable. He mentioned as an opposition; there are several ways to get him out.

“He hasn’t convinced me at any point that he is good enough for Test cricket. The thing that I’d say about Travis Head is, as a top-order batsman, you can’t be vulnerable in so many ways. If I’m looking at him as an opponent, I’m thinking there are quite a few ways we can get this guy out,” Chappell told Wide World of Sports.

An off-spinner like Ashwin would be confident in getting him out: Ian Chappell

Ian Chappell further said that Travis Head is susceptible to short-pitched deliveries, has trouble with the spinners, and the problem of nicking in the slips. He added that an off-spinner like Ravichandran Ashwin could think of many ways to dismiss Head and as a top-order batsmen, one cannot play this way.

“He was almost out first ball against the short delivery; he’s got a problem with that, he’s got a problem with nicking into the slips, he has trouble with the spinners, I can see ways there that an off-spinner like Ashwin would be confident in getting him out. As a top-order batsman, you can’t be vulnerable in that many areas,” he added.

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