‘He’s gonna be a really consistent leader for us’: Travis Head backs Cummins in the long run

Travis Head used to stand alongside Pat Cummins as Australia’s co-vice captains, but things will be different on Wednesday for the first test of the Ashes series against England.

Their pathways have gone quite differently since they were equals on Australia’s leadership team, Head has since been demoted from the vice-captaincy role and dropped from the test team entirely, whilst Cummins remains the number one ranked bowler in the world, and is now the Australian captain.

Once touted as a candidate to eventually become the captain of Australia himself, Travis Head is full of confidence in Cummins’ ability to lead the side.

“Patty is ready to go, he’s gonna be a really consistent leader for us over a long period of time, what you see in his performance is what he’s like as a leader, he communicates really well, builds really good relationships,” Head said on Monday.

“His communication is probably his best (leadership skill), he’ll lean on some of the guys throughout the series, I’ve obviously experienced it (formerly as vice-captain of Australia and currently as captain of South Australia).”

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Head is adamant that his role in the side is to make runs for Australia, but if his experience in leadership is needed, he won’t shy away.

“Primarily I’m gonna be there to make as many runs as I can but if I can lend a hand in any way then that’s great, we’ve got a range of guys,

“Obviously he’s got Steve (Smith) who’s tactically unbelievable and reads the game really well, obviously when Pat’s bowling he’ll be able to go to him as much as he needs, but full of confidence with the way Pat’s already started.

Travis Head’s effort to get back into the test squad is commendable, having scored two centuries in the Sheffield Shield this season with an average of 49.25.

Head will have just edged out Usman Khawaja for the number five spot, citing ‘consistency’ as his main focus.

“Obviously runs is the currency, there’s a few things technically that hadn’t really changed over two or three seasons for me, it’s just about making sure that I’m really consistent in that, you’re always gonna go in and out of form but trying to find ways of being as consistent as possible,” he said.

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“There’s been opportunities to take that (number five) spot a few times, having been in that position, taken my chance a couple of times, and let chances slip a couple of times, that happens,

“I feel like my learning’s from Shield cricket, being able to go out and be as consistent as possible, I had my omens in Shield cricket and in England not long ago where I was a little bit inconsistent, so just finding ways to get out of that, I feel like I’m in a great space to try and take that spot, and try and contribute for Australia,

“That’s the beauty of the Australian squad, before the squad was picked there was six, seven guy’s names in the mix and you’re one innings away from being in or one innings away from being out.”

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Head will lineup against England in the first test for Australia with a fresh sense of confidence that he’s not felt before going into a test series.

“I know how big the atmosphere is, the build-up, I’ve definitely come into the camp a lot more relaxed, I feel like I’m ready to go, it’s about enjoying what comes now.”

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