Travis Head’s Warning About Perth Pitch, Concerns for Indian Batters

Australian batter Travis Head has shared his thoughts on the Perth pitch ahead of the first Test match against India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Known for its bounce and pace, the Perth wicket could be a tough challenge for Indian batters, especially those playing there for the first time. Head’s description of the surface as “terrifying” has added to the concerns.

Head, who averages over 40 at Perth, admitted that while he enjoys batting there, the pitch becomes difficult in the final three days of a Test.

“I’ve enjoyed batting here, but only in parts. There are parts of this wicket that can be terrifying, simple as that. Everyone knows this. By day three, four, or five, it can get really challenging,” Head said on the Unplayable Podcast.

Although Head has a strong reputation as a batter, his performance in the current World Test Championship cycle hasn’t been the best. He’s averaging just 28.68 in 12 Tests, with one century and three fifties from 22 innings.

Head’s Strategy for Bouncy Pitches

Head also spoke about how he prepared for short-pitched deliveries during the last Ashes series in England. He used yellow tennis balls in the nets instead of cricket balls to get used to the bouncy surfaces.

“I did a lot of this in England,” Head explained. “After the first Test, I hardly faced cricket balls in practice. I knew short balls were all they’d bowl to me, so I trained with yellow balls and had a bit of fun by skipping pads during nets. That might come out again here,” he added.

While he admitted the method isn’t enjoyable, he emphasized its effectiveness. “I don’t want a broken finger, but I need to prepare for it. It’s tough to train against short balls, but it helps deal with them better during matches.”

With such conditions expected in Perth, India’s batters will need to adapt quickly to the bounce and pace to succeed in the first Test.