The prospect of filling Aaron Finch’s one-day opening spot all the way in which to subsequent yr’s World Cup isn’t one thing Travis Head will let devour him as he prepares for Australia’s collection with T20 champs England this week.
Head has been given the primary crack at seizing the spot left vacant by the retirement of the nationwide skipper and can bat on the prime of the order with David Warner in Thursday‘s ODI conflict with England in Adelaide.
It would mark Pat Cummins’ first recreation as captain and the primary of 17 video games for Australia between now and subsequent yr’s event.
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Head will not be new to opening for the Aussies, having blasted his technique to 101 and 89 in Pakistan earlier this yr, innings which made up for struggles within the Check collection.
It’s a place he began his South Australian profession in, and one he feels snug enjoying.
That consolation, and his uncovered type, means he’s in a optimistic state of mind to grab the chance offered to him, having identified the ache of being dropped, which he was simply six months earlier than the 2019 World Cup.
“So now 12 months out from one to get my probability to be within the staff is an thrilling alternative,” Head mentioned on Tuesday in Adelaide.
“However it’s making an attempt to not put an excessive amount of stress on myself to do one thing completely different.
“I’ve had some actually good success on the prime. So I don’t need to change that and my mindset round that.
“I’ve performed quite a lot of one-day cricket to know what is anticipated of me and what’s anticipated to exit and carry out.
“You may’t look too far forward, there may be quite a lot of cricket to return. I simply need to begin rather well on Thursday and play my position as finest as I can.”
Head is aware of the position he has to play, which isn’t to be Finch who averaged just below 50 in an extended mixture with Warner, which included victory within the 2015 World Cup, and final yr’s T20 World Cup too.
“There’s the chance to place stress on within the first 10 overs … And I feel that’s once I play my finest as properly,” Head mentioned.
“However you must respect the brand new ball, it‘s nonetheless going to swing.
“I‘m fortunate I’ve somebody actually good (in Warner) on the different finish, we feed off one another when we now have accomplished it a few occasions (collectively).”
Head, who was the participant of the collection in final yr’s Ashes, battled in Checks in each Pakistan and Sri Lanka, however retained his place within the squad for the upcoming collection in opposition to the West Indies.
He was adamant he’d accomplished the laborious work since these subcontinental failures, in opposition to the purple ball, assured he was able to be efficient for Australia once more.
“I didn’t get runs, that’s fie, quite a lot of good gamers have gone over and never bought runs of their first couple if collection,” he mentioned.
“For me, it’s about studying, adapting, working extraordinarily laborious.
“Finally I get an opportunity on Thursday, after which within the Check summer time to play rather well.”
