Australian batter Travis Head’s preparation for the Boxing Day Test was examined by newly retired Indian spinner R Ashwin ahead of the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024–25.
Shortly after the drawn third Test in Brisbane on December 18, Ashwin said goodbye to international cricket. His more than ten-year career was filled with outstanding and game-winning efforts. Even though Ashwin is no longer playing, he is active on social media.
R Ashwin responded on December 25 to a video of Head working out in the nets.
He noted that during practice, the southpaw was getting closer to the off-stump. “Gosh! He’s reaching the off-stump now? “Is that the round-the-stumps ploy?” he answered in response to an X post.
Travis Head is batting now. Travis Head will be batting in the Test. Travis Head is is all set to play the Boxing Day Test #AusvInd pic.twitter.com/rZBONhtDOv
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) December 24, 2024
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024–25 is currently tied at one.
Head, who strained his quadriceps during the third Test, has recovered in time for the next one and will try to be a key member of his team once more. Head may be trying to counteract the angles caused by bowlers aiming at his pads from around the wicket by moving closer to the off stump.
Before the rain-shortened third Test resulted in a draw, both teams had won one each in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. In Adelaide, the hosts responded admirably, while India made history by crushing Australia in Perth. With the Boxing Day Test now functioning as a virtual semifinal, the victor increases their prospects of earning a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
Tanush Kotian, an off-spinner from Mumbai, has been added by India to replace Ashwin in the interim. Known for his versatility, Kotian has excelled in domestic cricket. In contrast, Australia has announced that Scott Boland will replace injured Josh Hazlewood and that teenage phenom Sam Konstas would take Nathan McSweeney’s spot.
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