'He needs to learn how to play turning balls' - Allan Border wants Travis Head to learn how to play on Asian pitches

Former Australia skipper and veteran Allan Border has opined that the middle-order batter Travis Head needs to learn how to play spin before Australia’s next tour of India. Border has suggested that Head should take a look at Matthew Hayden’s gameplay in the subcontinent and make changes to his batting technique accordingly.

To note, Head had very poor outings during Australia’s red-ball games against Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Playing on turning tracks on two recent Asian tours, Head only managed to score 91 runs at a poor average of 15.17 with his highest being just 26 runs.

He is a very good player against anything other than the turning ball: Border on Head

“He has got to sit down and work out a method better than it is going at the moment, that is for sure. I have talked to him a little bit about batting on spinning wickets,” cricket.com.au quoted Border as saying.

“He has got to learn how to sweep and sweep well. And he has got to use his feet – people do not seem to be prepared to go down the track, and defend even. There are just a few subtle little things. He is a very good player against anything other than the turning ball. That is the chink he has got to work on, but it is (play the) sweep shot, use your feet, get on the front foot, and when you are trying to defend, use nice soft hands,” Border added.

He also wants Head to learn from Matthew Hayden as the Australian opener was very successful in the Asian countries. The left-handed batter had amassed 1,663 in Asia at an outstanding average of 50.39. He had also demolished India’s bowling line-up during their series in 2001 where he smashed 549 runs at an average of 109.80.

“Hayden is a great example. You are talking about a kid who batted on the Gabba five games a year, then the WACA … Sydney (the SCG pitch) turned, that was the only place that really (gave you a chance to bat) against a spin bowler,” said Border.