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Analysis: Three methods Indian bowlers should deploy against Travis Head in Brisbane

Take a closer look at the possible three methods that can employed by Indian cricket team to dismiss Travis Head during the third Test match in Brisbane

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Australian batter Travis Head has been a constant thorn in the flesh of India. The left-handed batter scored a quick-fire century in the second Test in Adelaide to swing the game in his team’s favor. Even in the second innings of the Perth Test match, Travis Head scored 82 runs in quick time before falling to Jasprit Bumrah. 

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With the Test series locked at 1-1, India has to make a firm comeback if they have to qualify for the WTC finals. Currently, Rohit Sharma’s side has slipped to third in the table and is facing the prospect of missing out on the finals in June next year. 

It is expected to be a quick wicket for the third Test match at the famous Gabba in Brisbane. India’s fast bowlers have fired well, with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj in amongst wickets. The role of the third seamer at this wicket, especially against a batter with the class of Head, is what will define the outcome of the game. 

Here are three methods Indian bowlers should deploy against Travis Head 

3: Short ball barrage from over the wicket

One of the key aspects Indian bowlers missed during the second Test was the usage of short balls. Travis Head faces issues when facing the bouncer barrage and gets into ungainly positions while trying to fend deliveries bowled at his body. The best example was when Marco Jansen bowled a short ball to Head, who was left hopping. The left-handed batter was up on his toes trying to flick the ball and was caught by wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne. 

Team India doesn’t have a left-arm pacer with the height and pace that Marco Jansen possesses. This is where someone like Prasidh Krishna could come into the equation. The Indian pacer has all the tools to unsettle any batter and get their wickets. One of the key aspects that separates Krishna from Harshit Rana is the former’s ability to bowl short-pitched deliveries at high speed. 

2: Fuller deliveries tailing into batter 

It is no secret that Travis Head likes to use the width given by bowlers early in the innings. Anything short and wide is going to be dispatched for a boundary. This was seen during the early part of his innings in Adelaide, where Indian bowlers erred in their lines and lengths. One grey area Travis Head possesses is his lack of foot movement in the early part of his innings. 

Mohammed Siraj’s delivery in Adelaide is a prime example of where Indian bowlers can target the batter. Jasprit Bumrah’s full ball during the 2018 Melbourne Test is yet another instance where Head has found it tough to negotiate pacers who bowl on the full-length areas. Even Harshit Rana was able to exploit this weakness during the 1st innings of the Perth Test. Rohi Sharma needs to invite Head to try and hit the ball down the ground rather than square of the wicket early in his innings. Rohit can also employ fielders at cover and mid-wicket and stifle Head from taking easy singles and create pressure. 

1: Off spinners bowling flatter deliveries round the wicket

R. Ashwin created the best chance for India during the Adelaide Test, where Head tried to heave him down the ground. Mohammed Siraj failed to hold the catch with the batter yet to reach his century. While many experts feel that Washington Sundar will be best suited for the game in Brisbane, Ashwin’s presence in the 11 holds the key. 
Travis Head, like any other left-handed batter, struggles against off-spinners early in his innings.

So far, Head has been dismissed 3 times each by R. Ashwin and Moeen Ali, showing his weakness against the finger spinners. One area in particular where Head tends to struggle is against the flattish off spinners that hold its line. Ashwin, over the years, has used the carrom ball well but has been reticent to use it recently. The best option will be to come around the wicket and cramp Head for room and bowl flattish deliveries targeting the top of his off-stump. 

Ravichandran Ashwin Jasprit Bumrah Travis Head Mohammed Siraj Prasidh Krishna