Travis Head's innings taught me a lesson today

[MechEng]

Always adapt to change and accept the same, there is no harm in being nostalgic but avoid holding on to past for too long.

 

Head's batting technique and approach would have had coaches hounding on him in Sheffield Shield games in the 90s, let alone making it to the national side. Gilchrist was attacking too but he played proper shots unlike Head. 

 

However, his belief in his game and an uncompromising approach where he adapts to the present team needs instead of taking the traditional route makes up for his rash and risky approach. He is ready to play T20 shots even on difficult pitches if that can win games.

 

I used to yearn for the past years when cricket was a proper contest of bat and ball etc. and thought how the current batters are mentally soft often. There might be some truth to it, however it is equally possible that batters from previous eras would find it almost impossible to replicate what Head did today with their traditional approach.

 

That's it folks, enjoy your heroes from the past and appreciate them, but never forget the champs of today who are evolving the game further with their different kind of game.

Edited November 22, 2025 by MechEng

[vvvslaxman]

Head was not in any form. Failed badly in domestic. International returns were poor. He had his own self doubts.  He had full license here. It released him.  More importantly  as Nasser hussain/Athers saying playing straight is risky at Perth.  So he gave room and played mostly through square. It became almost risk free due to the area where he played through.

[MK55]

It would have been difficult to play like the way people did a decade back. What he did (playing T20 shots) is his natural game and that gives him the maximum chance to contribute. He’s not making some sacrifice by taking risks and playing against his style for the team. 

And the pitch and the smallish target suited him even more. 

But that was a great knock and his ability to contribute in high pressure situations is what defines him.

[MechEng]

13 minutes ago, vvvslaxman said:

Head was not in any form. Failed badly in domestic. International returns were poor. He had his own self doubts.  He had full license here. It released him.  More importantly  as Nasser hussain/Athers saying playing straight is risky at Perth.  So he gave room and played mostly through square. It became almost risk free due to the area where he played through.

 

That is correct technically, and Head has technical shortcomings which are easy to identify.

 

However, his belief in his game is what is to be celebrated here. And the fact that the game is evolving always (albeit not necessarily perfect)

Edited November 22, 2025 by MechEng

[R!TTER]

33 minutes ago, MechEng said:

That's it folks, enjoy your heroes from the past and appreciate them, but never forget the champs of today who are evolving the game further with their different kind of game.

Let's not get carried away, this was a T20 target on a fairly goodish pitch where both teams played trash for 1.5 days! You know India was the best chasing team between 1970-80's or so?

 

Home or away away (home of opposition) or neutral venue

Start of match date between 1 Jan 1970 and 31 Dec 1989

Innings in match 4th innings

Team runs greater than or equal to 300

Totals in terms of batting team

Overall figures

Team	Span	Mat	Won	Lost	Tied	Draw	W/L	Ave	RPO	Inns	HS	LS
India	1976-1989	5	1	2	0	2	0.500	54.48	2.74	5	445	324
Australia	1975-1981	3	1	1	0	1	1.000	54.65	3.16	3	402	402
England	1977-1983	2	0	1	0	1	0.000	43.00	2.97	2	417	417
New Zealand	1973-1983	2	0	2	0	0	0.000	39.25	2.47	2	440	345
Pakistan	1977-1988	2	0	1	0	1	0.000	33.78	3.11	2	341	301
West Indies	1976-1984	2	1	1	0	0	1.000	60.90	4.82	2	344	326
Sri Lanka	1989-1989	1	0	1	0	0	0.000	34.80	2.45	1	348	348

 

 

You know why that is - mainly because of one man SMG 

 

Opening is the toughest place in (test) cricket but also the most impactful. Then there's something called time, with smallish totals it's generally good to chase them down quickly because the less time there is the less variables & the less opportunity to screw up. On the flip side if you start badly it can also unravel doubly quick. For some reason our (test) teams post 2014/15 have gone from bad to worse in terms of chasing even manageable totals, you remember our two biggest chases in that time & probably the one common factor?

 

We were chasing decent totals even till 2010/11 but that has changed almost completely today & I blame one man for that - you know who! Having said that the entire team needs to buckle up if we want to change this trend  

Edited November 22, 2025 by R!TTER

[MechEng]

4 minutes ago, MK55 said:

He’s not making some sacrifice by taking risks and playing against his style for the team. 

 

That is true, but then he is also not pressuring himself to change his style/approach. It's not easy when you have so many advices/gyan thrown around on the right way of doing things and somehow proceed to do what you want to.

[Suhaan]

8 minutes ago, vvvslaxman said:

Head was not in any form. Failed badly in domestic. International returns were poor. He had his own self doubts.  He had full license here. It released him.  More importantly  as Nasser hussain/Athers saying playing straight is risky at Perth.  So he gave room and played mostly through square. It became almost risk free due to the area where he played through.

People liken him with Warner,but to me he's like Hayden who was overall a confident batter ,even if he was nervous or out of form

He was so positive and confident about his ability that rubbed on his performance 

[MechEng]

4 minutes ago, R!TTER said:

Let's not get carried away, this was a T20 target on a fairly goodish pitch where both teams played trash for 1.5 days! You know India was the best chasing team between 1970-80's or so?

 

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Overall figures

Team	Span	Mathttp://i.imgci.com/espncricinfo/blackArrowDown.gif	Won	Lost	Tied	Draw	W/L	Ave	RPO	Inns	HS	LS
India	1976-1989	5	1	2	0	2	0.500	54.48	2.74	5	445	324	http://i.imgci.com/espncricinfo/guruInvestigate.gif
Australia	1975-1981	3	1	1	0	1	1.000	54.65	3.16	3	402	402	http://i.imgci.com/espncricinfo/guruInvestigate.gif
England	1977-1983	2	0	1	0	1	0.000	43.00	2.97	2	417	417	http://i.imgci.com/espncricinfo/guruInvestigate.gif
New Zealand	1973-1983	2	0	2	0	0	0.000	39.25	2.47	2	440	345	http://i.imgci.com/espncricinfo/guruInvestigate.gif
Pakistan	1977-1988	2	0	1	0	1	0.000	33.78	3.11	2	341	301	http://i.imgci.com/espncricinfo/guruInvestigate.gif
West Indies	1976-1984	2	1	1	0	0	1.000	60.90	4.82	2	344	326	http://i.imgci.com/espncricinfo/guruInvestigate.gif
Sri Lanka	1989-1989	1	0	1	0	0	0.000	34.80	2.45	1	348	348	http://i.imgci.com/espncricinfo/guruInvestigate.gif

 

 

You know why that is - mainly because of one man SMG 

 

Opening is the toughest place in (test) cricket but also the most impactful. Then there's something called time, with smallish totals it's generally good to chase them down quickly because the less time there is the less variables & the less opportunity to screw up. On the flip side if you start badly it can also unravel doubly quick. For some reason our (test) teams post 2014/15 have gone from bad to worse in terms of chasing even manageable totals, you remember our two biggest chases in that time & probably the one common factor?

 

We were chasing decent totals even till 2010/11 but that has changed almost completely today & I blame one man for that - you know who! Having said that the entire team needs to buckle up if we want to change this trend 

 

You have to look at context too, it takes serious self belief and guts to apply this approach from Head. So many uncertainties in this game.

 

We have folded at 81 chasing 120, let's not get started on our past.

[MK55]

9 minutes ago, MechEng said:

 

That is true, but then he is also not pressuring himself to change his style/approach. It's not easy when you have so many advices/gyan thrown around on the right way of doing things and somehow proceed to do what you want to.

Yes. His strength is mental fortitude n clarity of thoughts. He knows his strength and sticks to it. That also helps in handling match pressure situations.

[raki05]

5 minutes ago, MechEng said:

 

You have to look at context too, it takes serious self belief and guts to apply this approach from Head. So many uncertainties in this game.

 

We have folded at 81 chasing 120, let's not get started on our past.

Some genius said chasing 120 in kolkata would have been miraculous effort.

[R!TTER]

1 minute ago, MechEng said:

You have to look at context too, it takes serious self belief and guts to apply this approach from Head. So many uncertainties in this game.

 

We have folded at 81 chasing 120, let's not get started on our past.

Yes & like I said I blame one man - BRat for it, that Gabba win was a fluke & it'll probably cost us many games in the future! Our 90-2k stars were confident of chasing such totals especially with SRT, then Dravid, VVS, SCG even Sehwag in the squad. Now what did they do differently than many of our chumps these days?

 

IMO singles - that is how you make or break games, even ODI's were built like that till recently! If we can't hit boundaries then the least the batters should be looking to do is to take singles regularly - where has that art been lost? Oh wait that genius 150 crore ko c***** banane wala maal IPL  

[ravishingravi]

Actually it re-affirmed a lesson that I was aware of. Instinct is very important in life and leadership. Whether its Dhoni coming up in WC finals or VVS coming one down in Eden Gardens or Travis in this game, its important to be in the moment and sense what happening. Captaincy and leadership is a lot of about having this gut feel. To my mind, when I saw Travis coming to open, I was clear that he will have an impact. I also thought so because in 1st innings, Travis got out playing a nothing shot. But he was fairly comfortable compared to the rest of the team.

 

Most are so caught up in the noise that they miss the signal. Having said this, Stokes also has good instincts. My feeling is that you can expect more surprises in coming tests. 

[vvvslaxman]

1 minute ago, ravishingravi said:

Actually it re-affirmed a lesson that I was aware of. Instinct is very important in life and leadership. Whether its Dhoni coming up in WC finals or VVS coming one down in Eden Gardens or Travis in this game, its important to be in the moment and sense what happening. Captaincy and leadership is a lot of about having this gut feel. To my mind, when I saw Travis coming to open, I was clear that he will have an impact. I also thought so because in 1st innings, Travis got out playing a nothing shot. But he was fairly comfortable compared to the rest of the team.

 

Most are so caught up in the noise that they miss the signal. Having said this, Stokes also has good instincts. My feeling is that you can expect more surprises in coming tests. 

 

I don't think you can add Axar patel starting ahead Kuldeep, Jadeja, Sundar inside first 10 overs to that list. That was pure nuts.

[New guy]

Meanwhile in our country if Pant falls trying to hit, oldies like Gavaskar start abusing him and social media and news and management is critical of him.

 

Then of of course these guys will be in two minds and not okay their natural game 

.

[BacktoCricaddict]

33 minutes ago, New guy said:

oldies like Gavaskar start abusing him

Bat-pad gap an all that.

[BacktoCricaddict]

34 minutes ago, vvvslaxman said:

 

I don't think you can add Axar patel starting ahead Kuldeep, Jadeja, Sundar inside first 10 overs to that list. That was pure nuts.

We only remember the "instincts" that worked, and attribute them to some stroke of genius rather than a coincidental success. 

 

I'd rather have a consistent strategy (process) leading to consistent results. 

[goose]

i thought this was going to be about your ex

[lemsip]

One big difference is that Head is considered just a batter in a lineup. He is not held up to be a demi god around whom the entire batting revolves and whose dismissal is a cause for national mourning. If he gets out coming in at number 5, they accept it and move on.

In India, there is an outbreak of widespread wrist slitting if Pant or any other player  gets out for a 20 or 30 and they instantly become match ka mujrim for the day. India takes cricket much more seriously than other countries and this national obsession with individual players creates the pressure and skittishness in players which we occassionally see when they are put under sustained pressure by the opposition.

[Lord]

Hate his WC final knock but gotta admit he's one of a kind

[BacktoCricaddict]

1 hour ago, lemsip said:

One big difference is that Head is considered just a batter in a lineup. He is not held up to be a demi god around whom the entire batting revolves and whose dismissal is a cause for national mourning. If he gets out coming in at number 5, they accept it and move on.

In India, there is an outbreak of widespread wrist slitting if Pant or any other player  gets out for a 20 or 30 and they instantly become match ka mujrim for the day. India takes cricket much more seriously than other countries and this national obsession with individual players creates the pressure and skittishness in players which we occassionally see when they are put under sustained pressure by the opposition.

You forgot to mention star-struck ICF posters calling them national treasures etc. Total madness, I tell you.