Australian batting star Travis Head has decided to miss the upcoming white-ball series against Pakistan to spend valuable time with his family. As he prepares to face India in the five-Test series (Border-Gavaskar Trophy) starting November 22 in Perth, Head is expecting his second child with his wife, Jess.
Head will take a break from the three-match ODI series and the subsequent T20 campaign against Pakistan. According to cricket.com.au, he will enjoy a rare opportunity to recharge before the Test series against India, with his preparations yet to be finalised.
Changing priorities for Head
Having spent 330 days away from home in the past year, Head acknowledges that the arrival of a new family member will shift his priorities. “I’ll probably make decisions in the future around family more, and what drives me to play is probably more my family and my teammates,” he stated during the announcement of his one-year BBL contract with the Adelaide Strikers.
Training approach before the Tests
While a Sheffield Shield game on a bouncy pitch would have been ideal preparation for Perth, Head prefers to take it easy before resuming training. “I probably won’t hit for the next little bit; I’ll probably just chill,” he said, contrasting his style with teammates Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith, who can bat for extended periods in the nets.
Maintaining excitement for batting
Head emphasised his belief in playing matches over endless practice sessions, saying, “If I bat every day, it will become boring.” He has found that taking breaks can enhance his performance, saying, “I’ve played better sometimes when I’ve had a little bit of a spell from batting.” As he looks ahead, Head plans to focus on gym work and running in the coming weeks, gradually increasing his batting practice as the India series approaches.
