Follow UsAustralia’s Test captain Steve Smith declined to commit to making Travis Head Australia’s permanent opener after Head’s explosive century in the first Test at Perth. Head, moved to open the innings for the first time outside South Asia, smashed 123 off 83 balls and powered Australia to an emphatic eight-wicket victory over England, finishing the Test in just two days.
Smith acknowledged the magnitude of Head’s knock, but cautioned that granting him a fixed opening berth would require further reflection.
“Let’s just digest this first, the last couple of hours have been pretty incredible,” Smith told reporters, as quoted by ESPN Cricinfo.
“It’s probably too early to say anything on that, but what we just witnessed was quite incredible. I’m glad to have been in the house to see it."
The opening duo of the match had seen a change as Head replaced the injured Usman Khawaja, who was forced off the field with back spasms during England’s second innings. Smith said the circumstances around Khawaja’s absence complicated Australia’s plans.
“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 said.
Smith added that Khawaja’s back issue was a frustrating and rapid development.
“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]. It wasn’t ideal, it all happened pretty quickly. 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.”
The second Test in Brisbane is starting on December 4, which will allow the injured Australians some good amount of time to get back to fitness.