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Australia has made an enormous choice gamble for the opening Check, axing Travis Head regardless of a career-best summer season from the left-hander.
Head was a surprising omission when Australian captain Pat Cummins revealed his crew on the toss, with Peter Handscomb recalled in his favour.
The 29-year-old pounded 525 runs at a median of 87.50 in opposition to the West Indies and South Africa over the Australian summer season, however has struggled mightily within the subcontinent, averaging simply 21.30 seven Exams.
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Australian nice Matthew Hayden was amongst these shocked by Head’s omission, with the legendary opener admitting he was left “speechless” on the toss.
“I can not imagine it. For me, he was the participant of the summer season,” Hayden stated on Fox Cricket’s protection.
“Completely totally different situations to Brisbane I do know, however his 90 there was so good. He made it look flat regardless that it wasn’t, it was a raging green-top.”
Handscomb has performed 5 Exams in India and has averaged 25.25 in his earlier outings within the nation.
The 31-year-old hadn’t performed a Check since January 2019 earlier than being recalled for the collection opener in Nagpur.
Hayden was removed from the one former Australian Check legend to be shocked by the decision, with ex-captain Steve Waugh equally bemused.
”Arduous to imagine we are able to drop the No.4 ranked Check batsman on the earth and possibly our greatest batsman within the final 12 months plus he bowls higher than common off spin – let’s wait and see – possibly the Aussie selectors are genius’s!” Waugh wrote on Instagram.
Former Australian keeper Brad Haddin instructed Handscomb’s superior document in opposition to spin could have gotten him the nod over Head, who’s extra prolific in opposition to pacemen.
“Peter Handscomb is know as being a very good participant of spin bowling, he has performed properly right here up to now,” Brad Haddin stated on Fox Cricket’s protection.
“Travis Head’s document within the subcontinent has been poor.
“It will not be the final time we see him within the subcontinent, I believe he simply wants a bit of bit extra time to get used to his sport in these situations.”
Australia was pegged again on the primary session after profitable the toss and electing to bat first, dropping each Usman Khawaja and David Warner within the opening two overs.
Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne briefly launched into a rebuild mission, however Head’s absence was made much more evident when Ravindra Jadeja sparked a middle-order collapse within the second session.
Jadeja eliminated Labuschagne and the left-hander batting in Head’s customary No.5 spot in consecutive deliveries, earlier than eradicating Smith a couple of overs later to have Australia in strife.
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