"I try to whack it every time" Travis Head reveals batting mindset after 23-ball 59 in 1st ENG vs AUS T20I

Travis Head has a strike rate of 176 in T20Is in 2024.

Left-handed Australian batsman Travis Head has opened up on his batting mantra in T20 cricket. The dynamic left-hander has been in imperious form in the last three years in all three formats.

After cementing his place in Australia’s test and ODI teams, Head has made himself a first-choice player in the T20I team as well since last year.

Since 2023, Head has played 20 T20I innings, in which he averages 37 and, more importantly, has a strike rate of 175. He’s notched up five fifties in these 20 knocks. He’s been batting in ultra-aggressive T20 mode, especially this year.

The coach and captain want me to bat freely: Travis Head

After cracking 80 off 33 in the first T20I against Scotland, Head, on Thursday night, blasted 59 off 23 in the first T20I against England in Southampton, which paved the way for Australia’s 28-run victory.

Upon bagging the Man of the Match award, Head talked about the freedom he’s been given by the captain Mitchell Marsh and coach Andrew McDonald to go out in the middle and “whack it every time”.

“Nice start, bowled well at the start, got one away, set a platform… I was trying to acclimatise to a wicket with pace, hitting good shots and Shorty got a cracking start. Good partnership to start the series well. We’ve played at the Strikers, a consistent theme at the top, we can all play that,” Travis Head said.

“We were trying to use the pace on the ball. Guys have been playing together for the last couple of years. The coach and captain want me to bat freely. I try to whack it every time,” the opener added.

Apart from Head, opener Matthew Short played a vital role with the bat, plundering 41 runs off 26 balls as the duo added 86 runs for the opening wicket in the powerplay. Australia posted 179, and in reply, England were bowled out for 151 as Sean Abbott, Adam Zampa and Josh Hazlewood shared seven wickets.

The second T20I will be played in Cardiff on Friday.

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