IND vs AUS: Why is Travis Head is Not Playing Today’s India vs Australia 1st Test? Check Australia Playing 11

Travis Head IND vs AUS: The big news coming from the Australian team is that they have surprisingly left out Travis Head from the playing XI in the first Test match against India being played at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur. Australia have done a lot of preparations for this Border Gavaskar Trophy four-match Test series in India and there has been a strong buzz around the globe for this intriguing battle. Incidentally, Australia managed to win their last Test series in India back in 2004.

IND vs AUS: Why is Travis Head is Not Playing Today’s India vs Australia 1st Test?

After winning an important toss and opting to bat first, Australian captain Pat Cummins mentioned that they are not playing Travis Head for this opening Test match against India. It is really shocking that Head has been dropped from the side as the left-handed middle-order batsman has been in a terrific form in the longest format of the game over the last few months. He managed to score a total of 213 in the three Test matches against South Africa at an amazing average of over 53 that included a match-winning fifty in the opening Test. While having played a total of 33 Test matches, Head has scored 2126 runs at an average of 45.23 that includes 12 half-centuries and 5 hundreds. However, there has been a lot of talks around the Nagpur pitch being really difficult for the left-handed batters and that forced Australia to leave out Travis Head and instead play a right-hander in Peter Handscomb.

“We are going to bat. Looks like a pretty even wicket towards the middle. 2017 was a big series. Can’t wait to get this started. We have had good preparation. We feel we are really well placed. Two changes Todd Murphy in. Handscomb in for Travis Head,” said Australia captain Pat Cummins during the toss.

AUS Playing 11

1. David Warner
2. Usman Khawaja
3. Marnus Labuschagne
4. Steve Smith
5. Peter Handscomb
6. Alex Carey (wk)
7. Matt Renshaw
8. Pat Cummins (C)
9. Todd Murphy
10. Nathan Lyon
11. Scott Boland

Dropping @ShubmanGill (who has been in supreme form) to accomodate @surya_14kumar just because you cant drop @klrahul cos he is vice captain is silly by @BCCI . Also @CricketAus dropping Travis Head (who has been in glorious form) is silly. #INDvAUS

— Nikhil Ram (@Nikhil_Rams) February 9, 2023

Imagine not including Agar against all right handed Indian batsman

And not including Travis Head who was absolutely phenomenal in middle order for Australia in last couple of months ??‍♂️

Ashwin ka darr inke dimag me ghus Gaya hai already https://t.co/uOOO7fBbe7

— Ted (@SavageClown666) February 9, 2023

T.head last 7 test innings in order: 99, 175, 38*, 92, 0, 51, 70 then dropped??? Unbelievable #travishead #AUSvIND #INDvsAUS

— Patrick Ascott (@4patrickascott9) February 9, 2023

Btw Travis Head have been quite good against all types of spin bowling in Tests.#INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/wqqjmu16b4

— Ranny Cricson ? (@13Ranny_tweets) February 9, 2023

India vs Australia 2023 Schedule