13 hours Ago
Midway through a Christmas Day fitness test, star Australian batter Travis Head spotted a cameraman filming and hammed it up for those watching his every move. Watch every ball of Australia v India LIVE & ad-break free during play in 4K on Kayo | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer .
The 30-year-old, who was a centurion in both Adelaide and Brisbane in a Border Gavaskar Trophy series tied at 1-all leading into the Boxing Day Test, put on an exaggerated limp as he made his way to the crease in the nets. But it was not long before the sweet sound of the ball smashing into the middle of the bat could be heard as Head finished the final stages of a fitness session lasting about one hour. Australian captain Pat Cummins said Head, who looked sore when batting in Brisbane in the second innings and did not field in the few overs India faced on the final day at the Gabba, will play at the MCG.
“Travis is good to go. So he’ll play. He just ticked off some final things today and yesterday, but yeah, no stress, no kind of worries about injury,” Cummins said.
“He’ll go into the game fully fit. I don’t think you’ll see too much management of him throughout the game. He just kind of plays as is, but maybe around (his) fielding, if he’s a bit uncomfortable, we will (look at that), but he’s fully fit.
” Head’s fitness has been a matter of intrigue for days. Cricket Australia initially denied he was injured, despite his discomfort being evident on the last day in Brisbane. After the match, he admitted being “a bit sore” amid a heavy workload - he has effectively carried Australia’s batters on his shoulders so far - and Cummins confirmed he had a tight quadriceps muscle.
He skipped a non-compulsory session at the MCG on Monday but has batted in the nets the past two days. On Christmas morning he spent time in the middle of the MCG with his daughter as the Aussies frolicked with their families before the serious test began. Over a period of about 15 minutes, the 30-year-old did a series of sprints at a reasonable pace and also some short sharp bursts.
His level of comfort depended on who was watching, with some cameramen believing he looked sore, but either way he completed the session before heading to the nets. His timing was superb and Cummins said he has never seen the South Australian batter in better form. “It feels like the last 12 months, he’s been in this unbelievable kind of vein of form, and he just keeps going on with it,” he said.
“He’s hitting the ball really cleanly. You can see the pressure that he shifts back onto the opposition, literally from the first ball that he walks out there. “I keep saying I’m loving that he’s in our team and (that I) don’t have to Try and set a field and bowl to him, but he’s hitting the ball as well as I’ve ever, ever seen anyone.
Long may it continue.”.
