December 15, 2024: After his impressive century in the third Test against India at Brisbane, Australian batter Travis Head expressed his satisfaction with the knock, highlighting how crucial the performance with the new ball on day three would be. On day two, alongside Steve Smith’s return to form with a century, Head played a crucial role in putting India on the back foot.
In his post-day interview, Head reflected on the joy of building on his century at the Adelaide Oval. He noted that staying positive and spending time at the crease allowed him to play his natural aggressive game. “I thought I had to spend some time in the middle, credit to the top three guys for sticking it out against the new ball, which made my task easier,” Head said. He also mentioned his confidence against the new ball, adding, “I felt pretty positive, but it was fun to be aggressive.”
Head lauded the Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah for his skill, acknowledging that Bumrah had bowled some “wicket-taking balls” and made life tough for him. Despite this challenge, Head seemed to enjoy his batting partnership with Steve Smith. He joked about how when Smith scores well, he tends to go unnoticed: “When he bats well, I tend to go under the radar.”
On Smith’s batting, Head praised his movement and footwork, which allowed him to play more proactively at the other end. He also expressed his pleasure in playing with Smith and mentioned that he was enjoying his role in the team. Reflecting on facing Indian spin, especially Ravindra Jadeja, Head admitted to being a bit nervous at the start but was happy with how he adapted to the challenge.
Looking ahead, Head recognized the importance of the new ball and stressed that it would play a significant role throughout the remainder of the game. He noted, “The new ball will do something throughout the game, can’t see too far ahead, but hopefully the weather plays nicely.”
Head also spoke about the broader goals for the team, including their ambitions for success in Sri Lanka and a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final. He finished his remarks by expressing genuine happiness for Steve Smith’s return to form, saying, “Very pleased for Smudge. He has had a lot against him, and it’s nice to see him back to his best.”
With both Head and Smith firing at Brisbane, Australia looks well-positioned, and the match is shaping up to be a thrilling contest.
