"I was surprised at Sunny’s comments... they were pretty funny" - Travis Head on Sunil Gavaskar's theory regarding Josh Hazlewood's injury
Australia batter Travis Head quashed Sunil Gavaskar's claims that a rift within the team apparently led to pacer Josh Hazlewood being dropped for the second Test against India. The former legendary cricketer had speculated that Hazlewood's injury could be made up as a punishment for his comments to the media during the first Test.
During the Perth Test, the right-arm pacer had suggested that it was entirely up to the batters to figure out the fourth innings run chase plan, leading to rumors of potential cracks within the team. A few days later, Cricket Australia (CA) announced that Hazlewood would be unavailable for the second match due to a side strain.
In his column for Sportstar, Gavaskar highlighted the 'mystery' surrounding the sudden injury and claimed there was panic in the opposition camp.
"The panic in the Australian ranks is palpable, with former players calling for heads to be chopped off and some even hinting at cracks in the Australian team after Josh Hazlewood’s media interview at the end of the third day’s play, where he suggested that it was up to the batters to now do something," Gavaskar wrote in his column for Sportstar.
"Now, a few days later, Hazlewood is out of the second Test and possibly the series too with a supposed side strain. Strange, that, since nobody had noticed anything wrong with Hazlewood at that media conference. Mystery, mystery — the like of which used to be common in Indian cricket in the past," he added.
Travis Head, who had spoken about the team being in unison and had denied any rifts during a pre-match press conference ahead of the second Test, also shared his opinion on Gavaskar's comments.
“I was surprised at Sunny’s comments. They were pretty funny. Dropping ‘Hoff’ (Hazlewood), and throwing a couple of daggers and shooting across the bow, but who cares? It is what it is. Everyone is paid to have an opinion. He’s in the entertainment business, as a few teams around the world would say. He’s in the commentary team. If that makes it more fun for him, then go for it," Head said on the Willow Talk podcast (via Fox Sports).
Australia have named Scott Boland as Hazlewood's replacement in the playing XI for the second Test.
"The guys get along really well" - Travis Head on Team Australia
Hazlewood's comments proved to be the cherry on the cake for the media and pundits to feed on after Australia's humiliating 295-run loss in Perth. With rampant criticism surrounding their approach and long-term planning, the team is being labeled fragile, with unrest in the dressing room apparently being a key component among others.
"There's most of the dive when we're winning as well. I think that's the one thing with body language and divide and all the stuff that comes out when you face a loss, that this team's been together three or four years, and we were winning. I think it's not much too dissimilar. So yeah, the guys get along really well. We hold high expectations for both sides," Head said during a press conference (via India Today).
The second Test between India and Australia is scheduled to begin on Friday, December 6, at the Adelaide Oval.