Strikers coach backs his star batsman to succeed at international level
Head ready for Aussie T20 duties: Gillespie
Emerging batsman Travis Head is a special talent who can make an instant impact for the Australia Twenty20 side, says his Adelaide Strikers coach Jason Gillespie.
Head, on the back of a standout KFC Big Bash League tournament, has been included in the national squad for KFC T20 International series against India, which starts in Adelaide on Tuesday.
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And Gillespie has no doubt the 22-year-old can make an immediate mark in international ranks.
"I'd like to think he will get an opportunity in the Australian side," Gillespie told reporters on Friday.
"I'd like this core group to stay together, I think we've got something pretty special here, and I'd like it to continue."Not the finish we wanted, but plenty to like about where this side is going according to Dizzy. See the full presser for his thoughts on our list heading into next year. FULL PRESSER: http://bit.ly/1Z4cLp4
Posted by Adelaide Strikers on Thursday, January 21, 2016
"I'm sure he'll grab it with both hands. He's a quality player ... a pretty special player.
"And he played some wonderful knocks in tough situations and that is the mark of a player - you can find a way to score runs or take wickets and have an impact, find a way to be a match winner.
"These sort of players are coveted by national selectors, that is for sure, and Travis is certainly one of them."
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Gillespie's Strikers were downed by eight wickets by Sydney Thunder in Thursday night's BBL semi-final.
The first-year Strikers coach was disappointed at the result but paid tribute to the match-winning unbeaten century by Thunder opener Usman Khawaja, who cracked 104 from 59 balls.
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"I'll be honest, probably a couple of years ago I didn't think he had the capabilities in Twenty20 cricket - and I'm probably not alone in thinking that," Gillespie said.
"I just thought he was more a longer form player.
"But it's complete credit to him, how he has adapted his game and worked things out.
"That was a special knock, let's not beat about the bush."