"Don't think we even played into the fifth day" - Travis Head warns India of 'changed' Australian pitches ahead of BGT 2024-25
Star Australian batter Travis Head feels Team India will play on vastly different wickets than the ones they played on earlier Down Under. The left-handed batter recalled how none of the Tests went into Day 5 in their 2023-24 home summer.
According to a report by Perth Now, the six summers before the 2020-21 series against India, a wicket fell in Australia every 66.6 deliveries. However, the pitches have favored bowlers over the last three home seasons, as the average has come down to 52.
Speaking to AAP recently, the South Australian acknowledged that it's been tough even for home batters Down Under and that the style of play has also changed due to that. He remarked:
"You look back at those series, cricket in Australia, the Tests we have played have changed a little bit. The style we need to play has changed with the wickets we have been dealt. It's been tough the past couple of years."
Head added:
"That will be the big difference between the last time India came. Most of the Tests got to the fifth day. I don't think we even played into the fifth day last summer. There were real up and down Tests on some tougher wickets."
David Warner was the only Test centurion for Australia during the 2023-24 summer, as he hit 164 against Pakistan in Perth. The hosts also lost a Test to the West Indies, failing to chase 216 in Brisbane.
"It's like us going to India and playing on theirs" - Travis Head
Nevertheless, Head suggested that such juicy wickets also minimize the gap between them and the visiting team. The South Australian explained in the same interview:
"Their batters in different conditions, it will be tough for them. They played South Africa a little while ago and they won one and lost one on some dicey wickets. It's uncomfortable. It's like us going to India and playing on theirs."
"It probably helps us a little bit. If it was us and England on juicy wickets you would probably say it benefits England. But their bowlers are so good, it takes the spinners out of it a little bit. It takes the spinners out of it a bit maybe," he added.
The first of the five Tests between Australia and India begins on November 22 in Perth.