Smith mum on Head’s promotion as opener in the future as he backs Usman Khawaja to come good in the series.
Smith stalls talk on Head’s permanent role as Ashes opener.
Steven Smith, the captain, was unsure if Travis Head would continue to open the batting after his 69-ball century helped Australia win by eight wickets at Perth, but he was still in a frenzy after the first Ashes Test.
Head replaced Usman Khawaja, who had been off the pitch for a while in England’s second innings owing to back spasms, to open the batting for the first time in a Test innings outside of South Asia.
After Marnus Labuschagne had been handed the task in the first innings, his rise proved to be a game-changer. He hit 123 off 83 balls to disrupt England’s all-out speed assault, which had been so successful on the first day.
For a while now, Australia has been concerned about the available positions. There may be a persistent push for Head to play the part in this series given the pressure Khawaja, 38, is under and Jake Weatherald’s debut scores of 0 and 23.
Khawaja’s back spasms from the first day forced him off the pitch during England’s second innings. He felt more pain after straining high for a ball that soared above him in the slips, but he was still able to play on day two.
“We didn’t like how things functioned in the first innings with Marn going up top and me batting three. So Trav took it on and played one of the great Ashes knocks.”
“He was reasonable this morning. I actually thought it was his knee at one point,” Smith said. “Fortunately, it was the same thing [back spasms]. He [Khawaja] said before that it’s probably one of the best back spasms he’s ever had given the circumstances [of Head’s century].
Smith said the circumstances around Khawaja’s ill-timed absence in the field in England’s first innings, making him ineligible to open the batting, was a “little frustrating”. Khawaja eventually batted at No.4 and was dismissed for just 2.
“Wasn’t ideal, it all happened pretty quickly,” he said. “I got told, I think just before we got the last wicket….that he needed to be on the field to go and bat.
“I think that’s why we landed where we landed yesterday [with Labuschagne opening]. Today we had a little bit more time to go through it and work it out.
“I mean, those things can happen in the game. No one’s fault. Move on.”