"I'm pretty confident he'll play" - Australia head coach confirms star batter's participation in BGT 2024-25 4th Test amid injury concerns
Australia head coach Andrew McDonald said Travis Head is in good shape leading up to the Boxing Day Test against India. The explosive batter was deemed doubtful for the upcoming encounter due to a groin injury he sustained during the third Border-Gavaskar series Test at The Gabba in Brisbane.
The uncertainty regarding Head's presence in the line-up escalated after he was initially absent from practice and put in a small shift later on.
Following the draw in Brisbane, the left-handed batter shrugged off injury concerns, citing soreness, and said he would be fit for the Boxing Day Test.
McDonald told reporters (via Wide World of Sports):
"(I'm) really confident that he'll play. Has he got some things to work through? Yeah he has ... there's no concern at the moment. Has he been officially ticked off? I'm not sure, I didn't see the back end of his training session but I'm pretty confident he'll play."
"I think he looked good with the bat in hand, so skills are in good order. It'll just be what risks are associated with that. He had a small strain to the quad ... but there's no concerns from my end, he's been able to do his running so I think he'll be functional," he added.
It remains to be seen whether Travis Head has got the official clearance to play from the Australian medical team. According to a few reports, he was left frustrated after his short net session. He will likely have to undergo a late fitness test to prove his recovery ahead of the fourth Test.
Australia's Travis Head is the leading run-scorer in the BGT 2024-25 so far
The left-handed batter has had a say with the bat in each of the first three Tests in the ongoing series. He scored a counter-attacking fifty in the second innings in Perth, which was followed by consecutive tons in Adelaide and Brisbane. He has amassed 409 runs in five innings at an average of 81.80 and a strike rate of 94.23.
He has been responsible for about a third of runs Australia have scored this series, and his absence in the business end might prove to be a huge blow for the hosts. If Head fails to regain fitness in time, the Men in Yellow will have to look for options in the middle order. Wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis would likely slot in at No. 5 in such a situation.
India and Australia will face each other in the fourth Test of the series from Thursday, December 26, onwards. The series is currently level at 1-1.