Ricky Ponting describes how Australia could benefit from moving Travis Head up in the batting order for the next Ashes match. The southpaw has batted at No. 5 for Australia for the majority of his red-ball career. But earlier this year, when Australia was touring Sri Lanka, he started the batting. But in the Test series against the West Indies and the ensuing World Test Championship (WTC) final, Head dropped back to No. 5.
Ponting believes Head might be promoted to No. 3 for the eagerly awaited Ashes series, which kicks out in Perth on November 21. According to the former captain of Australia, this decision might assist the team captained by Pat Cummins put pressure on England right away. In addition to providing more balance in the middle order, Ponting believes that Head batting in the top order might counterbalance England’s explosive pace combination of Jofra Archer and Mark Wood.
You used to enter the team as a No. 5 or No. 6 player when you were younger, but you finally rose through the ranks to take a No. 3 position.
Ponting clarified on SEN Radio that they might consider moving Travis Head up to No. 3 in order to do that.
He went on to say, “If England truly wants to get ahead and try to dominate England through this Ashes summer, they could look at it this way: having someone like Travis Head come in at No. 3 and be able to put some pressure back on the likes of Jofra Archer and Mark Wood.”
Ponting, however, recognised Australia’s tremendous depth, especially with gifted young players continuing to compete. He claimed that 19-year-old Sam Konstas, who recently scored a century for Australia A in India, should join seasoned opener Usman Khawaja in the top order.
“I envision Khawaja and Konstas as our top order. I believe they envision Green as that long-term No. 3 since they pushed him up to No. 3 when they did so in the Caribbean. I would absolutely maintain Beau Webster at number six, Smith at number four, and Head at number five. Ponting said, “I don’t understand how they could keep some of the other guys in and leave Beau out of the side.”
In five Test matches, Konstas has amassed 163 runs at an average of 16.30. Even if the right-handed batter’s Test career hasn’t started off well, Australian greats believe he will be a future star.
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