Australia’s Test selectors are looking at a major overhaul of the batting, where Travis Head has been penciled down as a potential opener for the coming Tests against Sri Lanka. It still leaves open the future role of teenage newcomer Sam Konstas. There are reports that Head is keen to open the batting on spin-friendly tracks, which, according to selectors, is his optimal place.
First, Head got a position at number five in the second Test, but he could make only 12 runs. But when David Warner received an injury, there was a chance to prove himself at the top of the order and Head did that.
He has endeared the selectors to the idea of making him a permanent opener, which may serve blows to Konstas’s career. The series against Sri Lanka is to commence from January 29th to February 6th.
Could Sam Konstas be dropped for the Sri Lanka game?
A possible disadvantage for Sam Konstas is the possible promotion of Travis Head to the opener but demoting the young talent barely in his second season may be unwise. Instead, next, selectors may think about demoting Usman Khawaja down to number five while opening with Head and Konstas. Khawaja has performed exceedingly well at position 5, where he has so far scored two test innings at an average of 238.
It perhaps speaks volumes that, all considered, Khawaja’s record against spin in Sri Lanka and India makes him a compelling option, if not as a top-order bat, then definitely in the middle order.
Selectors might also consider offering Khawaja a ‘rest’; if selectors are bent on playing Head, then they might have to find a place for Peter Handscomb, Josh Inglis, or the young Cooper Connolly in the middle order. This would enable Konstas to carry on getting more experience at the test level as well as try other batting combinations.
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