Travis Head-ache and Nightmare for Indian Cricket
Travis Head, the fearless left-handed Aussie, has become a curse for team India in the last one and a half years. His attacking brand of cricket has snatched the game away from India in many instances. Some of the scars that his POM innings left in the hearts of Indian fans are the World Cup 2023 Final and the World Test Championship 2023 final. The 2nd test match of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024 at Adelaide saw the recurrence when Head once again single-handedly took the game away from India when Australia was reduced to 108 for 3 in the 1st innings.
The Indian team would like to come up with a better plan in the next test match to eliminate any threats to Travis Head. His hard-hitting ability and scoring runs at a healthy strike rate make him one of the most dangerous batsmen in the world. Let us look at the instances where Head took the game away or threatened to take the game away from India from a crucial position:
World Test Championship 2023 Final: Battle of the Best
At Kennington Oval, India won the toss and decided to bowl first. The game was set for the best test team in the 2-year cycle. Shami, Thakur, and Siraj bowled pretty well, and Australia found themselves in trouble at 76 runs for 3 wickets. Then it came to bat, Travis Head, who played a fantastic knock of 163 runs. The knock made sure that India was out of the game in the first innings itself.
Along with Steve Smith, Head added a partnership of nearly 300 runs. He had his moments of luck. But he kept on attacking the bowlers, and with each stroke, he stabbed a knife into the hearts of Indian players and fans. The Indian bowlers found themselves helpless, and it was all on the Indian batsmen now to keep them in the game. Unfortunately and sadly for India, Head cost them the ICC trophy even after a long wait.
The Scars of ODI World Cup 2023 Final
The Indian team was riding on the back of an undefeated streak in that particular World Cup until they encountered Travis Head in the final. After a batting collapse in the first innings, India set a target of 241 in the final. India started on a good note and reduced Australia to 47 for 3 wickets in 7 overs. The bowlers were breathing fire. But Head had some other plans to spoil the party of Indians. He tackled all the questions asked by the bowlers, with a bit of luck as well. He kept playing his natural game, attacked the loose balls, and along with Marnus Labuschangne, played out the early spells of Bumrah and Shami to ease the pressure at the other end.
With the game evenly poised, Head started to take on the spinners, and with 15 fours and 4 sixes, he got out but when the game was done and dusted for India. His magnificent century in the final broke the hearts of all the Indian cricket fans, and Australia added another trophy to their golden legacy.
T20 World Cup 2024: A Failed Attempt
Travis Head once again threatened the Indian fans with his outstanding knock at the T20 World Cup. He was the lone fighter in the end who kept hopes alive for Australia. India posted a dominating total of 205, thanks to the exploits of Rohit Sharma’s 92 knock. Australia came out to bat knowing the target and how to go about it.
Head and Warner started the innings, but it was all Travis Head show for Australia until he got out in the 17th over with 50 runs remaining. He took on Hardik, Axar, and Kuldeep with ease and kept the hopes for Australia alive. He scored a magnificent 76 off 43 balls against a good bowling lineup. As he got out, it was all over Australia, and India sunk the hopes of Australia in the recent T20 World Cup 2024.
Team India and Indian fans would want Head to get out early every time he plays against them. In the upcoming BGT 2024/25 matches, it will be interesting to see how the Indian bowlers plan to neutralize his threat and get India an easy win over Australia.
