Travis Head's innings taught me a lesson today

[Lord]

3 hours ago, MK55 said:

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.

 

You're selling him short. It takes massive balls to bat like that on a pitch where 30 wickets have fallen in 1.5 days. And that too when he himself was in poor form.

[Vickydev]

2 hours ago, goose said:

i thought this was going to be about your ex

Not the kind of Head we like to talk about on the cricket forum

[BacktoCricaddict]

8 minutes ago, Lord said:

 

You're selling him short. It takes massive balls to bat like that on a pitch where 30 wickets have fallen in 1.5 days. And that too when he himself was in poor form.

Actually, it may work in your favor that nothing is expected from you because you are out of form. Just go and bindaas bash. If i comes off, great. If not, no worries, we tried. 

[putrevus]

Sehwag was like that for that you should be ready to be out first ball.

 

Jaiswal got out cheaply in first test and everyone was whining about him failing.Jaiswal 2nd inning 100 made it possible to square the series in England.

[Lord]

5 minutes ago, BacktoCricaddict said:

Actually, it may work in your favor that nothing is expected from you because you are out of form. Just go and bindaas bash. If i comes off, great. If not, no worries, we tried. 

 

Easy to think. Very tough to actually execute. Being a senior bat you can't be seen 'throwing' your wicket away

[BacktoCricaddict]

6 minutes ago, Lord said:

 

Easy to think. Very tough to actually execute. Being a senior bat you can't be seen 'throwing' your wicket away

It is only possible with full TM backing.

[putrevus]

Just now, BacktoCricaddict said:

It is only possible with full TM backing.

100% correct.You cannot whine when these sort of players fail. Our great Sunil Gavaskar was whining about Pant when he got out playing some shot forgetting the same style makes Pant special.

 

 

[Lord]

5 minutes ago, BacktoCricaddict said:

It is only possible with full TM backing.

 

I'm saying it still takes guts. Do you think Kela doesn't have TM backing? Yet melts under slightest of pressure.

[Trichromatic]

 

 

 

[Trichromatic]

 

 

 

[Suhaan]

8 hours ago, Lord said:

 

I'm saying it still takes guts. Do you think Kela doesn't have TM backing? Yet melts under slightest of pressure.

Arey,he has always been in liquid form

Tum kya hi pighlaoge

[MK55]

10 hours ago, Lord said:

 

You're selling him short. It takes massive balls to bat like that on a pitch where 30 wickets have fallen in 1.5 days. And that too when he himself was in poor form.

I’m not selling him short. He will and should be applauded for the execution.
I’m saying his natural game is to attack. That gives him the best chance to score and playing in that manner is not some kind of sacrifice for the team / his career. Situation was tailor made for that kind of innings. 
England were in a comfortable situation with a lead around 100. They just f lost their mind. No demons on that pitch on the second day. 

 

[nevada]

This fellow is a reverse choker. Throw him in a pressure situation and he will slash and dash his way to victory like a drunken Samurai, ripping the opposition hopes to shreds. Given that he has played quite a few match winning innings on big occassions, he now has the pressure of expectations but he doesn't give a damn! 

[Tillu]

He plays with a lot of conviction and is totally committed to the shots instead of the fear of dismissal weighing on him.

[MechEng]

I can already draw parallels between Travis Head and that F1 scene where Sonny Hayes tells his staff to design the car for combat.

Edited November 23, 2025 by MechEng

[tapandrun]

Prior changing to his ways and technique head was a proper top-order batter .

 

Its not like he is playing at the top in test for the 1st time. He has game for it he has played in that position.

He is a top player when it comes to marquee games that is his usp.  He averages 40+ in test with sr ~70. And in FC he has 11000+ runs with 170 + matches avg is 40+

 

Those who are saying he is technically not sound can they tell how to get him out, other than the kryptonite to all LH batter ball pitching on middle and decking away.

The word here is technically unconventional that too he has changed it recently, he has played conventionally for a long time.

 

He can access and play both leg-side and off-side, can play both pace and spin. And as he has played so many FC matches so he has game to play longer format.

 

And in Aus system they are not highly inclined with technically super right (like in Ind --high elbow and all that ), they understand the technique is about to play both pace and spin , on both leg and off sides and able to score runs plus add the power game to score bit quickly that opp. side.

 

Having strong defence, ability to play both pace and spin and on both sides off and leg and having no obvious weakness is how Aus batters are have been this way for a long time. Rest mental toughness etc.. are build in there system where winning is priority.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 23, 2025 by tapandrun

[Lord]

11 hours ago, MK55 said:

I’m not selling him short. He will and should be applauded for the execution.
I’m saying his natural game is to attack. That gives him the best chance to score and playing in that manner is not some kind of sacrifice for the team / his career. Situation was tailor made for that kind of innings. 
England were in a comfortable situation with a lead around 100. They just f lost their mind. No demons on that pitch on the second day. 

 

 

Nah did it again. Granted its his natural game, but he's out of form and playing out of position. And it was a very tough pitch where Eng batsmen were just dismissed playing expansive shots.

 

Most batsmen would try to see off atleast first spell. There was no hurry. 

[MK55]

1 hour ago, Lord said:

 

Nah did it again. Granted its his natural game, but he's out of form and playing out of position. And it was a very tough pitch where Eng batsmen were just dismissed playing expansive shots.

 

Most batsmen would try to see off atleast first spell. There was no hurry. 

That same pitch on day 2 even a guy like Gus could score a quick cameo and smack Starc.

 

It’s not about what most people would do. What he displayed was clarity of thought and confidence in his natural game. Given the pitch and the smallish total,  that approach works even more. And I’ve applauded him for that. And also for his execution. 

 

lol If u expect me to worship the guy for playing his natural game as most others won’t do - that ain’t gonna happen. 
 

That doesn’t mean I’m selling him short. 

Edited November 23, 2025 by MK55

[vvvslaxman]

In before someone asking for Abhishek sharma to open in Tests.  Even Aussies admitted there was an element of luck in that innings. Ball fell in empty places.   Rohit sharma tried this slogging against Matt Henry in the NZ series. Failed almost every single time.  It was just his day. Made the most of it. Even wetherald and Tuk tuk master Labu scored quickly. England bowling was terrible.

[zaqw222222]

I also liked that Travis did not start throwing his bat in the first over, he waited for 13-14 deliveries and then started taking chances. Its some thing that I want Jaiswal to replicate during 4th innings chases, at least give yourself some time in second innings and then start taking chances.