BGT 2024-25: Australia head coach Andrew McDonald provides update on Travis Head's availability for Boxing Day test

Travis Head is the leading run-scorer of the ongoing BGT 2024-25.

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 has lived up to expectations with the five-match series currently tied at 1-1 after the first three tests.

Both teams have shown moments of brilliance, but neither has been perfect. India‘s over-reliance on Jasprit Bumrah has been evident from the fact that the visitors expect him to take two to three wickets in every spell he bowls.

While Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep have been impressive, none have been able to generate the same level of impact on the Australian batting lineup as Bumrah.

For Australia, the story has been similar with Travis Head. The southpaw has scored two centuries and a score of 89 in his five outings so far. While Steve Smith provided him the support in Brisbane, he has looked far from his best.

Other senior batters – Usman Khawaja Marnus Labuschagne and Mitchell Marsh have also failed to make an impact in the series. While we move to Melbourne for the Boxing Day test, the Australian team will keep a close eye on the Travis Head who suffered a quadriceps muscle strain in Brisbane.

Andrew McDonald on Travis Head’s availability for Boxing Day test

Speaking to the media ahead of the Melbourne test, Andrew McDonald addressed the fitness concerns surrounding Travis Head. He expressed confidence in the availability of the southpaw, but acknowledged that the official confirmation is yet to come.

McDonald said, “Has he got some things to work through? Yeah, he has. So that’s what you would have seen [in the nets]. There’s no concern at the moment. Has he been officially ticked off? I’m not sure. I didn’t see the sort of back-end of his training session there, but I’m pretty confident he’ll play.“

He also noted that Head has looked good in nets while batting.

The Australia coach added, “I thought he looked good with the bat in his hand so obviously the skills are in good order. It will just be what risk is associated with that. But no concerns from my end, he’s been able to do his running so I think he’ll be functional come game time.”

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