NEW DELHI: Former Australia star opener
Matthew Hayden and captain
Steve Waugh have been left shell-shocked by the axing of Travis Head for the opening Test of the four-match Test series against India. Australian team included right-handed batter Peter Handscomb ahead of Head. Head was adjudged 2021-22 Ashes “Player of the Series”.
“I can’t believe it (Head’s axing). Mark Waugh actually was right next to him, and nor could Travis Head in that brief conversation,” Hayden was quoted as saying on Fox Cricket after the playing XI for the match was announced on Thursday.
“For me he was player of the summer. Totally different conditions I know in Brisbane at the Gabba but his 90 in Brisbane (against South Africa) was just so damn good. He made it like it was flat and it wasn’t. It was an absolute raging green top.
“But his mindset and his ability to be able to score quickly … I’m just speechless,” added Hayden.
Head got a 92 in the first Test against South Africa at the Gabba, which helped the hosts win by six wickets in December last year.
The middle-order batter again scored a half-century in the second Test at MCG as Australia defeated the Proteas by an innings to take a 2-0 lead. He went on to make another quick-fire 70 in the drawn third Test at Sydney in January 2023.
In fact, the “Player of the Series” against the Proteas, David Warner, who scored a double-century at MCG, was surprised at receiving the award ahead of Head.
Waugh felt the Cricket Australia chairman of selectors George Bailey and head coach Andrew McDonald perhaps overanalysed the chatter around the wicket.
“Hard to believe we can drop the number 4 ranked test batsman in the world and probably our best batsman in the last 12 months plus he bowls better than average off spin – let’s wait and see – maybe the Aussie selectors are genius! #gamble #overanalysing? #waitandsee,” Waugh wrote on Instagram.
(With PTI inputs)