Former India National Cricket Team head coach Ravi Shastri has said that the explosive Australia National Cricket Team batsman Travis Head has been the biggest headache for the Rohit Sharma-led side in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.
Ravi Shastri hilariously conferred a new nickname for the Aussie batter following his destructive performances against India and called him Travis Head’ache’.
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Travis Head shining bright in BGT 2024-25
The 30-year-old Travis Head, who was the chief architect behind Australia hammering India in the final of the ICC World Test Championship and ICC Cricket World Cup, has once again troubled the Men In Blue.
He started off the series with a score of 11, but since then he has looked unstoppable. He blasted 89 runs in the second innings of the Perth Test and then followed it up with a stunning 140-run knock in the Adelaide Test.
Then in the Gabba Test, Travis Head smashed 152 runs in the first innings and demolished the Indian bowling attack. Currently, he is the leading run-getter in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 with 405 runs in his bag at an average of 81.80.
I think he is very smart – Ravi Shastri
Speaking on ICC Review, Ravi Shastri talked about the performances of Head and stated:
“Because his new surname is Travis Head’ache’. They are looking for balms in India. For foot problems, ankle problems (and) even a headache they are looking for a balm. He is ideal for that.”
Head has struggled a lot against short balls over the years but has recently made big improvements in how he deals with this kind of delivery. Shastri noted this and lauded him for immensely improving his short-ball playing style. He said:
“I think he is very smart. From what I saw of him three years ago, he has improved immensely. Especially with the way he plays the short ball. He prepared to leave it. He has learned to leave it well at times.”
“It’s not a big shot all the time off a short delivery angled at his armpits or something. He’s prepared to either ride it or go for the big shots. And if it is middle, middle and off, then he hits it in front of square as well.
“He picks up length very well. That’s one of his great strengths. And he has a flashing blade for the offside. So he’s a hard man to contain. And he’s in the form of his life.”
We all knew he was dangerous, but that first shot he played off Jasprit Bumrah…. – Ravi Shastri
Ravi Shastri said that the way Travis Head played against Jasprit Bumrah shows that he is in the form of his life. So far Head has blasted 83 runs off 91 balls against one of the greatest pacers of all-time, Jasprit Bumrah, who has been a nightmare for other Australian batters. He said:
“We all knew he was dangerous, but that first shot he played off Jasprit Bumrah, that cover drive, off the front foot. It was in many ways a little bit on the up, off a good delivery, decent delivery. It told me that this is a player in prime, prime form.
“He went on to show exactly that. And the thing with him is there’s no, his mindset is very clear. There’s no clouded mindset. He’s very clear about the situation. This is my strength.
“I am going to play in that fashion. Yes, I will watch the state of the game. I might shift from fourth gear to third gear. But I will always be in third and fourth gear once I get my eye on.”