Steve Smith reveals why Travis Head has replaced Sam Konstas as opener for upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka

Australian skipper Steve Smith has confirmed that Travis Head will open the batting against Sri Lanka in the upcoming Test series. The current World Test Championship (WTC) title holders are set to end their current with their final two matches in Galle. Head, who was the best batter during the series against India, will open the batting with Usman Khawaja. 

Speaking to the media before departing for Sri Lanka, the 35-year-old said, “Trav will go to the top; outside of that, I think it will be pretty stable. I don't see it being a great deal of change from that. The selectors liked what they saw in India when he had that opportunity. He got after the new ball, scored quickly and put the pressure on them straight away, so I guess similar thinking here."

Sam Konstas had opened for Australia during the final two games in the series against India. The 19-year-old, as per reports, has been working hard on his defence to counter the spinning tracks he could encounter in Sri Lanka. It is understood that Konstas could bat in the middle order to bolster the batting. 

Steve Smith reveals Sam Konstas’ likely status against Sri Lanka

During his chat with the media, Steve Smith said, “He's going to have a lot of practice if he doesn't play, which in itself is great for development." Smith also gave his own example of his first tour of India in 2013, where he didn’t play the opening two games but learnt a lot from the experience. 

I only have to think back to 2013 in India, where I didn't play the first two Tests, and just the amount of balls I was hitting in the nets and the skills I was able to develop from facing loads of net bowlers and things like that. So whether he plays or not, I think it's going to be a wonderful experience for him. He's going to learn a lot," further added Steve Smith. 

Travis Head has played as an opener on five occasions, scoring 223 runs with a best of 90 against India in Ahmedabad. Head’s average as an opener is 55.75 with a strike rate of 71, which is on par with his strike rate while batting at number five. The 31-year-old has played 54 matches in total and scored 3621 runs with nine centuries and 17 fifties with an average of 43.