Head goes in to bat for embattled rival, drops cheeky ‘birthday’ optimistic over two-day Check

Amid the criticism from across the cricket world over the two-day Boxing Day Check, Travis Head has supplied a cheeky optimistic.

Cricket Australia are set to lose but extra hundreds of thousands after the marquee match lasted simply 952 balls, stopping predicted large crowds on the MCG for Days 3-5 of the Check; whereas the standard of each the batting on show and the pitch offered by curator Matt Web page have additionally been questioned.

However chatting with media after the Australian group turned what would have been Day 3 right into a fan day in Melbourne, Head was in a position to see one silver lining to the shortened Check – at the very least, for him.

“Sadly, it’s simply the way it falls,” he stated.

“It’s my birthday tomorrow, so it’s good to be off on my birthday for as soon as.”

Head stated he was ‘no likelihood’ of taking part in in a mooted one-day match on the venue on Sunday or Monday, which has since been scrapped; whereas suggesting solely the ‘cricket nerds’ within the group would take into account becoming a member of their BBL franchises within the time main as much as the fifth Check of the collection, which begins on January 4 in Sydney.

The Ashes hero additionally went in to bat for England opener Ben Duckett, whose lead-in to the fourth Check was marred by a social media video extensively shared on social media of him intoxicated exterior a pub.

“It was from one in all his personal as nicely … it was an English fan [who filmed the video], which is a bit stiff,” he stated.

“I get together with ‘Ducky’ nicely and reached out to him to see if he was going all proper.

“Everybody remains to be human and what you do in your private time is as much as you … on the finish of the day it’s a bit stiff.

“I don’t suppose there’s been any actual subject since that and it’s one thing to speak about.”

Head likewise confirmed help to the remainder of the England group, who’ve been roundly criticised for his or her mid-tour journey to Noosa for group bonding functions.

Travis Head celebrates his century on day two of the primary Ashes Check. (AP Photograph/Gary Day)

“I’m jealous!” he laughed.

“Everybody else has made much more out of it than I feel it ought to have been. We’ve carried out the identical factor on previous excursions, so I didn’t have a problem with it.”

Head has been a revelation after being moved to open the batting for Australia’s run chase within the first Check in Perth, hitting two centuries and taking part in an important position within the group’s 3-1 collection lead.

Nevertheless, he’s adamant he’s joyful to bat wherever the group requires him, with no choice for both opening or batting in his customary place within the center order.

“I’ve at all times been open to how we will make the group higher, and if meaning me on the high, and we’re a greater cricket group and we’re profitable extra, then I’m joyful,” Head stated.

“The one actual distinction goes to mattress at evening, not realizing for those who’re going to face the primary ball within the Boxing Day Check in entrance of 100,000 or not – however once more, it’s nonetheless a crimson ball coming down, regardless of for those who’re opening or 5.

“I’ve loved it, however I’ve additionally loved being 5.”