Shane Warne doesn't want 'future captain' Travis Head in Australia's playing XI against India

Fortunes can change in a jiffy in sport. Sport can show a player the highs of the world, and at the same time, throw him in a deep pit as well. Ask Travis Head, and he will tell you that it is absolutely true.

In his previous Test series against New Zealand, Head had scored a sensational hundred in the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne and helped Australia wallop their opposition by 247 runs. However, the fortunes have changed and the tables have turned back on Head now, with him managing to aggregate just 62 runs across 3 innings thus far in the ongoing Test series against India.

And, former Australian spin bowling legend Shane Warne feels that Head should not find a place in the Australian side. Warne also felt that the left-hander is currently having a technical deficiency as well.

“We know what a talent he (Head) is, he’s probably a future captain … He still could be, but he’s got to get in the side first – and at the moment I wouldn’t have him in the side. He’s got a little technique deficiency he needs to sort out first,” said Warne in a chat with Fox Sports.

Former batsman Andrew Symonds was also of the opinion that Head needs to go back to domestic cricket and wanted the left-hander to work on how he can commit to his shots.

“With Travis, he’s probably just got to go back (to domestic cricket) and really work on how he commits (to strokes). They’re just tentative shots, you can see the disappointment as he turns and walks off and thinks ‘it was just a nothing shot’.”

Warne also opined that Australia should go in with the opening pair of Marcus Harris and David Warner for the Sydney Test. Australia’s leading wicket-taker in Tests also felt that if Australia has two left-handers in the side, they can tackle the threat that Jasprit Bumrah possesses.

“With the Indian attack and given Australia has only made 300 once in at least six Test matches against India, I want two proper openers – and I’ve gone for two left-handers. With (Jasprit) Bumrah and the way the Indians bowl, I think it’s really important to have left-handers.”

Will Pucovski will get his chance: Andrew Symonds

However, Symonds disagreed with Warne regarding Australia’s opening combination and felt that Will Pucovski should be provided an opportunity. Symonds also said that everybody will be wishing the best for the 22-year-old Pucovski.

“For me, I think Will Pucovski will get his chance. I don’t think they would’ve brought him back in unless Will was ready to go. Let’s see what he’s got at the highest level. He deserves his chance. Everyone will be wishing him the best because he’s had a bit of a tough run.”

Warne finally concluded by saying that Matthew Wade has done enough to find a place in the eleven for the Third Test and ‘doesn’t deserve’ to be dropped.

“Then it came down to Wade or Head – and I’m a bit frustrated with Travis Head because he’s getting out the same way all the time. Wade doesn’t deserve to be dropped.”

With the series on the line, it would be very interesting to see the batting line up that Australia adopts for the Third Test in Sydney.