Explosive left-handed batter Travis Head believes Australia have enough depth and experience to handle the absence of senior batters Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne as they gear up for their opening Test against the West Indies at Kensington Oval in Barbados, scheduled from 25 to 30 June.
Labuschagne has been dropped following a prolonged lean patch, while Smith is unavailable due to a finger injury he sustained during the ICC World Test Championship final at Lord’s. Their replacements, Sam Konstas and Josh Inglis, have just two Test appearances each between them.
Despite the big changes, Head remains unfazed. He views the situation as a chance for the newer players to prove themselves at the highest level.
“They’re still part of the group, so the environment feels familiar during the build-up,” Head said while speaking to reporters in the Caribbean. “It might look a bit different once we’re out on the field, but the guys stepping in have already had a taste of Test cricket, even if it’s limited.”
Konstas is expected to open the innings alongside Usman Khawaja, stepping into the role Labuschagne occupied during the WTC final against South Africa. Inglis is likely to bat at number four, with Cameron Green remaining at number three and Head continuing at five.
This series marks Australia’s first outing since their WTC final defeat, and they’ll be looking to begin the new cycle on a positive note with a strong showing in the Caribbean.
For More Sports Related News: Follow RevSportz