‘It’s a challenge’: Novel timeslot tests Aussies

The runs are flowing for Travis Head at the World Cup but the Australian star is still looking for rhythm in another area before the Super Eight stage begins – his nap times.

Three of Australia’s five group games were scheduled at 8.30pm local time, giving Australians a favourable viewing time at home but posing a unique challenge to the players with more late starts to come.

Australia’s first two Super Eight matches, against Bangladesh in Antigua and Afghanistan in St Vincent, are both slated in the same timeslot.

Head, who started slowly but finished his 68 off 49 balls with a brutal flurry of sixes to lead a successful chase of Scotland’s 180 on Sunday, said he had felt “sleepy” before the match.

The games against Oman and Scotland both finished well after midnight local time.

“I’ve got to time my naps well. It’s been a challenge the last couple of games with the 8.30 ones, I’ve probably left my sleep a bit later in the afternoon and woken up a bit sleepy,” Head said.

“It’s probably got to be before midday, no sleeping after midday.

“It has its challenges waiting, and you’re clock watching until (leaving for the ground at) 7pm, so that’s still part of it.”

Australia needs to finish in the top two of its group with Afghanistan, Bangladesh and India to progress to the semi-finals.

Head, who remains relatively unfamiliar with Australia’s first two opponents, said his experience in the IPL this year had given him confidence preparing to face bowlers he had rarely seen before.

“Not a hell of a lot,” he said when asked what he knew of Bangladesh’s side.

“I think sometimes that’s a good thing. Look at my last two months, I’ve gone into a lot of unknowns, so I feel like I’ve got a good preparation in going into games and what not.

“Putting names to faces, watching them in the warm-ups and watching footage, going in fresh and seeing the ball come down, reacting to that as well as I can.”

Head said the Australians were not bothered by the predetermined Super Eight groups, which meant three of the four pool opponents topped their initial groups while South Africa was the only winner in the second pool.

“I think booking flights is easier that way, so logistically it works better. I think if you asked anyone, you wouldn’t really care,” he said.

“You’re in the Super Eights, everyone is a strong team, I don’t think there’s any easier group looking at both groups – both have got their challenges within them.”