Travis Head, India's New Tormenter

Australian Cricketers have proved to be a massive thorn for India in the past. Previously it was Steve Smith, who haunted the Indian bowlers from 2014 onwards. He still does. Along with him though is now a new partner in Travis Head.

The two seasons have been pretty good for him with the Australian team. Starting with the home Ashes, Travis Head cemented his place with some counter-attacking knocks against England. His performances culminated and he looked like a player to watch out for when Australia took on India in the World Test Championship Finals.

His aggressive style turned out to be the difference there with Travis Head saving Australia at the Oval. Three down for 70-odd, the game was wide open. India had Steve Smith and was focused on him with all he had done to them in the past. Travis Head though stood at the other end and stole the show. He launched a counter-attack quickly and put pressure on India’s change bowlers Umesh Yadav and Shardul Thakur.

Within minutes the pressure shifted. He finished with 163 and at a strike rate of nearly 94. He and Smith batted through the day and batted India out of the game. Australia, in control, bossed the rest of the game with Travis Head walking home with the player of the game award during the WTC Finals.

Fast forward six months and it is him again. Before his impact with the bat though Travis Head made his mark in the field. With Rohit Sharma raging through yet again, he looked like he could alone bat Australia out of the game early. Fortunately, he mis-timed a ball from Glenn Maxwell. The ball though looked like it was landing in no-man’s land until Travis Head, running backwards put in a dive to take a stunner.

He contributed to picking up one of the two biggest scalps in the Indian Team. His job wasn’t done though. In the second innings, chasing 24, Australia were reeling at 47 for three. The pressure was on again. Bumrah and Shami were getting the ball to do all sorts of magic. Travis Head though composed as ever stood and counter-attacked beautifully. He took his chances, found easy singles, and within no time did it again.

Six months after taking the WTC away from India Travis Head stood tall to take the World Cup away. He finished with 137 joining a special list of players with match-winning hundreds in World Cup Finals. Standing on the big stage, Travis Head once again haunted the Indian bowlers to get Australia their sixth World title.