'Psychological damage' concern after Head axing

1 year ago 76

Cricket fable Mark Taylor says Australian prima Travis Head could beryllium near with "psychological damage" from his daze axing adjacent if helium is recalled for the 2nd Test.

Taylor was one of galore stunned astatine the flip erstwhile Pat Cummins unveiled his playing XI, with Head, 1 of Australia's signifier batters, near retired for Matt Renshaw.

Renshaw managed a aureate duck and two successful his 2 digs arsenic Australia were trounced by an innings and 132 runs successful Nagpur, and is apt to beryllium dropped for Head successful the 2nd Test.

PLAYER RATINGS: Mark Taylor's verdict connected Australia's archetypal Test XI

However, Taylor warned that Australia's selectors whitethorn person caused immoderate irreversible harm by axing Head successful the archetypal place.

"I situation accidental they'll spell backmost to him present for the adjacent Test, but I interest astir the intelligence harm that whitethorn person been done to Travis Head due to the fact that what the selectors person told him is that they don't person large religion successful him connected those sorts of pitches," helium told Nine's TODAY.

"That's not what you request erstwhile you're going successful to bat successful places similar India."

Like galore of Australia's apical six batters, Head's mean successful location Tests (57.40) dwarfs his mean successful distant Tests (21.69), with the swashbuckling left-hander peculiarly struggling connected tours to Pakistan and Sri Lanka past year.

However, Taylor suggested that the lone mode for Head to amended that grounds was to proceed being exposed to subcontinental conditions.

"He's 29 years aged and he's perchance the aboriginal of our mediate bid and the lone mode he's going to get amended is if helium plays successful India," helium said.

"He inactive hasn't played a Test lucifer successful India yet, truthful that's wherever it surprises me."

When asked however Australia could reverse its fearfulness effect from the opening Test, Taylor pointed to connection being the large key.

"It's not impossible," helium said.

"I tin deliberation backmost to 25 years agone to my past mates of Test matches successful India. We got beaten successful Kolkata by an innings and 220-odd runs successful the 3rd Test of that series. In the 4th Test of that series, we turned it astir and won by 8 wickets, truthful you tin bash it.

"You've got to person belief, and that's the occupation due to the fact that there's been mixed messages sent astir Travis Head, to radical similar Ashton Agar, who was played successful Sydney but past didn't play the archetypal Test. That's sending mixed messages.

"So I anticipation the connection successful that changeroom is close due to the fact that it needs to be.

"Australia needs to beryllium wide successful their minds and commencement again connected Friday."

The 2nd Test of the four-match bid volition get underway connected Friday day AEDT astatine the Arun Jaitley Stadium successful Delhi.

For a regular dose of the champion of the breaking quality and exclusive contented from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!