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Ravi Shastri believes quick reading of lengths and improvement against short-balls is behind Travis Head giving India a headache.
Australia’s Travis Head celebrates after scoring a century during the day two of the second cricket test match between Australia and India at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide, Australia. (AP Photo)
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has nicknamed Australia’s leading run-scorer of the ongoing 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Travis Head’ache, for the pain he has given India with his sublime batting form in the three Tests so far.
Head has scored 409 runs in five innings at an average of 81.80 and more importantly, at a strike rate of 94.24. His tally is almost double of the second-highest run-getter, and India’s chart leader, KL Rahul with 235 runs at 47, who has played one extra innings.
“Because his new surname is Travis Head’ache’,” Shastri told the International Cricket Council on the ICC Review. “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.”
Analysing the ‘Headache’ seriously, Shastri noted that a major reason for left-hander’s run of form is his quick pickup of the bowlers’ length and an improvement against the short ball.
“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,” Shastri said.
“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,” Shastri said. 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.”
Shastri added that he understood what kind of damage would Head be able to inflict on India when he watched him play a cover drive against the now top-wicket-taker of the series, Jasprit Bumrah.
“We all knew he was dangerous, but that first shot he played off Jasprit Bumrah, that cover drive, off the front foot,” Shastri recalled. “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,” Shastri said.
“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,” Shastri said. 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,” he added.
India and Australia will play the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground from December 26.
