Aussie batter Head ready to open for team after heroics in first Ashes Test

Australia’s Travis Head says he is prepared to open the batting once more against England during the ongoing Ashes series after his second innings display in the first test in Perth last week led the home side to an eight-wicket victory over the tourists.

Head smashed a century in 69 balls, the second fastest in Ashes history, on his way to a match-winning 123 runs after being drafted in as a late replacement for Usman Khawaja, when the regular top-order batter was unable to take to the field.

“I’m preparing for anything at this stage,” said Head upon his arrival in Brisbane on Sunday ahead of the second test, which starts on Thursday.

“There’s a fair bit to work through. But I’ve just got here and we haven’t had many conversations in the last week. It’s about spending some time out of the game, as much as you can.

“I’m just preparing for each test to play the best way I can, and wherever I line up I’m happy. If that’s what’s needed to win a test match and that’s what’s required, yeah I’m fine with it.”

The Australians went into the five-test series with question marks over their opening batters, and debutant Jake Weatherald was the latest to struggle, losing his wicket to Jofra Archer with the second ball of the first innings.

But Head believes his performance in the second innings underlined the need for test teams to be flexible with their batting line-ups and to adopt the approaches used in the shorter forms of the game.

“I feel I can play in any role, so I’m open to (opening), and it’s just trying to work out in-game and in moments when you may use that,” he said.

“But I think all options are on the table and have been for a long period of time, about where the team can potentially get better and where there’s opportunities to potentially win games of cricket in moments. I think it’s always been on the table.

Head said batting orders are “slightly overrated”.

“But the traditionalists will say that’s how it’s got to be,” he said.

“It’s ever evolving and we’ll see where we get to.”

Meanwhile, England’s Joe Root on Sunday questioned whether the Ashes needed a pink-ball Test as he expressed confidence in his ability to get a big score in the day-night clash against Australia in Brisbane.

The former captain, Test cricket’s second highest run-scorer after Sachin Tendulkar, has played in each of England’s seven previous day-night Tests. They have won two and lost five.

But he is not sold on the idea of the matches being part of an Ashes series, with the first three days of the second Test at the Gabba sold out.

“I personally don’t think so,” he told reporters when asked if the Ashes needed the second Test, which begins on Thursday, to be a day-night match.

“It does add to things. It’s obviously very successful and popular here and obviously Australia have got a very good record as well.

“I can see why we’re playing one of those games. A series like this, does it need it? I don’t think so, but it doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be here either.”

Australia are masters of pink-ball Tests -- winning 13 of 14 matches under lights.

Their only defeat was against the West Indies at the Gabba last year, but England have not won in Brisbane since 1986.

Agencies