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Travis Head faces unwanted truth at Gabba as grim detail spells bad news for Australia

Head comes into the Gabba Test off the back of a magnificent century in Adelaide.

andrew reid
·3-min read

Travis Head will be hoping to address an ugly recent record at the Gabba when he comes out to bat in the third Test against India. The Aussies resumed day two at 0-28 after heavy rain washed out the majority of the opening day, with Usman Khawaja (19) and Nathan McSweeney (four) coming back out after being sent in to bat by India.

Brett Lee's prediction that Khawaja was set for a big score failed to eventuate as Jasprit Bumrah caught the edge and the Aussie was sent packing for 21 early on day two. He's now gone 28 innings without a Test century for Australia. The last time Khawaja made a Test ton was in the 2023 Ashes series, with teammate Steve Smith also under pressure to perform after going 24 innings without a century.

In-form Aussie batter Travis Head will be hoping to address a worrying recent record at the Gabba. Pic: Getty
In-form Aussie batter Travis Head will be hoping to address a worrying recent record at the Gabba. Pic: Getty

Head comes into the third Test as Australia's most in-form batter after blazing a match-winning century against India in Adelaide to help level the Border-Gavaskar series at 1-1. But the 30-year-old has endured a horror recent run at the Gabba, despite boasting a Test batting average of 50.28 at the Brisbane ground.

In Head's last three innings at the Gabba, he has been dismissed for first-ball ducks, with a 'king pair' of back-to-back ducks in last summer's Test series against West Indies coming after another first-ball failure in the second innings of Australia's victory over South Africa in 2022.

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The fact that Head's Test batting average at the Gabba remains so high comes down largely to his 92 in the first innings of the Test against South Africa and an epic 152 against England in the first Test of the 2021-2022 Ashes. That huge ton earned Head man-of-the-match honours and the Aussies may need another quick-fire masterclass from Head if they hope to get a result against India in Brisbane.

Travis Head comes into the third Test off the back of a big century in Adelaide. Pic: Getty
Travis Head comes into the third Test off the back of a big century in Adelaide. Pic: Getty

With just about all of day one washed out and more rain forecast for days three, four and five in Brisbane, it spells bad news for Australia's hopes of winning back the Border-Gavaskar trophy. Holders India only need to draw the series to retain the trophy, meaning if rain leads to a draw in Brisbane then Australia cannot afford to lose another Test.

There is still plenty more to play out at the Gabba before the Aussies face that scenario but with no rain forecast on Sunday, it looms as a particularly crucial one for Australia's hopes in the series. And Head's aggressive approach and ability to score quick runs could be key to the host's chances of getting a result in Brisbane, if rain does come into play on the final three days.

Forecasters indicate a high chance of showers on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, which could play into Head's hands on Sunday as the Aussies look for quick runs. Play kicked off 30 minutes earlier than normal at 9.50am local time (10.50am AEDT) on Sunday and will do so for the remainder of the Brisbane Test after the day one washout.