Travis Head Repels Test Challengers

As Australian cricketer Cameron Green continues to push for a Test spot, Travis Head replied to challengers for his position on Thursday.

Last week, Australian coach and selector Justin Langer said the fierce competition for places would leave no room for mediocrity among the incumbents. He would like what he has seen in the opening two rounds of the Sheffield Shield, which have delivered runs galore for those on the fringe of the baggy green.

As 21-year-old Green was batting at Gladys Elphick Park, disappointed having fallen short of a maiden double century, 26-year-old Head was accumulating 171 unbeaten runs at the adjacent Karen Rolton Oval to help South Australia salvage a draw against Tasmania.

Green took to the media to say how close he was to return to bowling in the Shield, which could potentially add more force in his push for a Test debut.

While Australian head coach Langer had stated his Test team is all but settled, Head's innings can only have helped his confidence leading up to the series against India.

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Travis Head, who made his Test debut in a series against Pakistan back in 2018, has struggled to turn his half-centuries into tons, pointing out how his first-class average had recently dipped below 40. With the number of challengers increasing for his Test spot, the standards asked for a spot have also risen remarkably.

Speaking to the media, Tasmanian and Test captain Tim Paine said: "Trav played an exceptional innings, and it was probably the difference between us getting through and not. I thought Trav handled it beautifully, especially the ball spinning into him. He played it very, very well. Good signs from an Australian point of view."

For Green, who has scored four centuries since the beginning of the last Shield season with an average of 52, not being an automatic pick for the Test makes it quite obvious how high the standard is right now.

Green's level of concentration is said to be the highest among his generation and very little satisfies him. He walked off the pitch disappointed after falling lbw to Sean Abbott for 197 just short of his first-ever double ton, which could have helped him in the push for a Test spot. Despite being disappointed with his dismissal, the 21-year-old still had the resolve to face 438 balls including lengthy spells facing Test spinner Nathan Lyon, who is in the NSW attack. Speaking to the media, Green said: "They came pretty hard, I take a lot out of it."

Green, whose bowling speed reaches 140 km/h, is currently recovering from the stress fractures in his back and will be looking to return to bowling later in the shield. He continued: "I won't be bowling 40 or 50 overs, maybe five to 10 here and there to help the captain out if he needs."