Greg Chappell a fan of Travis Head and his aggressive intent against India and in particular against Jasprit Bumrah.
Greg Chappell a fan of Head’s fearless intent and proactive mindset in his approach to tackling Bumrah.
Chappell, a former Australian cricket player, has praised Travis Head for his bold and successful strategy against India’s speed leader, Jasprit Bumrah, in the current Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. Chappell emphasised Head’s ability to not only survive against Bumrah but also counterattack, upending the rhythm of one of the most fearsome bowlers in the world, in his piece for The Sydney Morning Herald.
In a series when many batters have found it difficult to keep up with the pacer’s unconventional motion, pace, and accuracy, Head’s efforts against Bumrah stand out. In three Test matches, Bumrah has taken 21 wickets at an incredible average of 10.90. The left-hander has scored 83 runs off Head at an average of 41.5 and a scorching strike rate of 91.2, even though Bumrah has dismissed him twice.
Chappell emphasised Head’s fearless intent and proactive mindset in his approach to tackling Bumrah. “Head’s performances against Jasprit Bumrah in this series exemplify his fearless approach,” Chappell wrote.
“While most batsmen struggle to survive Bumrah’s unorthodox action, sharp pace, and relentless accuracy, Head has treated him like any other bowler. By playing with intent and looking to score off Bumrah, Head has not only nullified his threat but disrupted his rhythm.”
“His ability to dispatch short deliveries with authority and drive fuller ones with precision has been remarkable, underscoring the strides he has made,” the former Indian head coach added.
A major factor in Australia’s series performances has been Head’s unafraid batting. When Australia was under duress at 103/3, he scored a blistering 140 in the pink-ball Test, which turned the tide back in their favour. Head’s incredible 152 off 160 balls in the third Test in Brisbane, which included a huge 241-run stand with Steve Smith, further demonstrated his capacity to outscore elite bowlers under trying circumstances.
Beyond his batting prowess, Chappell believes Head’s consistency across formats and his temperament make him a strong contender to succeed Pat Cummins as Australia’s captain. The 76-year-old wrote, “I believe Travis to be the most improved batter in world cricket in the past three years and in becoming so, has firmed in favouritism to be the next Australian captain. In his current form, Travis exemplifies the Australian way of batting.”