Fresh off winning the Allan Border Medal for the second straight year, Australia batter Travis Head has reflected on his evolving role as a Test opener, admitting he does not see himself as a “true opening batter” despite enjoying remarkable success at the top of the order. Head’s comments come ahead of a demanding 12 months for Australia, who are set to play 20 Tests across Bangladesh, South Africa, India and England, with a potential World Test Championship final also on the horizon.
Head’s promotion changed Australia’s plans
Head’s move to the top of the order came last November after Usman Khawaja was sidelined through injury during the Ashes. The left-hander made an immediate impact, smashing a breathtaking 123 off just 83 balls in Perth to help Australia seal a two-day victory over England. He followed it up with centuries in Adelaide and Sydney, finishing the Ashes with an outstanding 629 runs, cementing his place as Australia’s preferred Test opener.Although Head had opened in specific overseas conditions in India and Sri Lanka, as well as regularly at the top in white-ball cricket, the Ashes marked his first sustained stint as Australia’s full-time Test opener.
‘I’m not a true opening batter’
Despite his success, Head believes his cricketing background differs from that of traditional Australian openers.“I don’t know the exact stats, but I’ve played around 170 or 180 first-class games, and I might have opened in ten of them, that probably suggests I’m not an opening batter, a true opening batter, in terms of what Australian cricket is known for. Usually those guys have opened all the way through junior cricket, state cricket and then Test cricket, ” Head told Cricinfo.However, the 31-year-old is confident his aggressive style can thrive at the top.“I think my game is conducive to playing well there. I feel like I can do the role. But it’s not that traditional opening batter, if that makes sense. I know I’ve still got to keep working hard against the new ball. I know I’m going to make mistakes, and that’s okay. I’m very comfortable with where my game’s at, ” he added.
Bigger challenges await
After the ongoing two-Test series against Bangladesh, Australia will tour South Africa before returning home to face New Zealand. The schedule then becomes even more demanding with a five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy in India, followed by the historic 150th Test against England in the 2027 Ashes.
