Head hopes Australia Day history repeats

Travis Head is hopeful that history repeats now that he seems set for a promotion to the top of Australia's batting order just days after he was cut from the ODI starting XI.

While Australia's line-up for tomorrow's fourth Gillette ODI Series meeting with England at the Adelaide Oval is yet to be finalised, Head seems the obvious candidate to replace in-form opener Aaron Finch who has been ruled out with a minor hamstring strain.

It comes a year to the day after Head opened the batting with David Warner in the Australia Day ODI against Pakistan, and the pair plundered a first-wicket stand of 284 as the local lad crowned his first ODI appearance in Adelaide with a maiden international century.

But the 24-year-old acknowledged today that he did not feel in good form heading into that fixture that Australia won by 57 runs – their most recent ODI win on home soil – and it may serve as a portent given his recent struggles that have cost him his place.

Head was dropped from Australia's XI for last Sunday's Gillette Series match against the rampant England in Sydney and returned to the KFC Big Bash League where he belted 58 from 47 deliveries, an innings that has him believing a repeat of last year's heroics is far from unfeasible.

"It was an exceptionally special day, to play my first one-day fixture in Adelaide and then to open the batting and to be able to get some runs," Head said in reflecting on his 2017 triumph.

"And looking back on the series (last year), I probably wasn't playing as well as I would have liked going into that fixture.

"If I get my opportunity tomorrow hopefully I can do the same, it's a beautiful batting wicket and there's plenty of runs out there.

"I feel like I've been playing well in the Big Bash, but I'm pretty disappointed with the way I've started in this series.

"I know it's there I've just got to try and find it."

With scores of five and seven in the opening matches of the competition that England currently leads 3-0, Head was part of an under-achieving Australia middle-order and was especially disappointed with his dismissal in game two at the Gabba a week ago.

When he bunted a soft return catch from the gentle off-breaks of England's Test skipper Joe Root after labouring 18 deliveries for his seven runs.

"I just didn't play the way I would have liked, especially in Brisbane," he said on Thursday.

"I probably was a little bit indecisive in my decision making which cost me, I don't think you can be (indecisive).

"I think my tempo is there and the way I'm hitting the ball is there, it's just a mindset thing for me.

"I didn't bat the way I would have liked the other night and it cost me my spot unfortunately."

As the youngest member of Australia's current ODI set-up, Head can rightly claim to still be mastering his game despite having played 32 ODIs and nine T20 internationals since making his international debut.

Which came, coincidentally, on Australia Day in 2016, in a T20 international against India which also celebrates its national day on January 26.

But the aggressive left-hander boasts experience beyond his relatively few years, having been elevated to the role of South Australia captain in the Sheffield Shield competition during the summer of 2014-15, at the age of 21.

As a consequence, Head has enjoyed the opportunities during the current Gillette Series to share experiences and glean insights from his teammate Cameron White, the only player to have been entrusted with a permanent first-class captaincy role in Australia at an even younger age.

White was 20 in 2003 when elevated to the leadership of a Victorian outfit that has gone on to dominate the domestic competition over the past decade or more, and has been a major source of information and inspiration to Head since his recall to the national ODI team at age 34.

As have been other senior members of Australia's ODI squad, which was expanded on Thursday to include allrounder Glenn Maxwell who flew to Adelaide as cover for Finch who remains in some doubt for the final fixture in Perth on Sunday.

"I talk to Steve (Smith) a little bit here and there, and he's extremely good but I'm still learning more off him than I'm giving him information," Head said today.

"Cameron White has also been exceptional as a leader, and I've watched him heaps.

"So to play with him now and to listen to him in the sheds and the way he talks about the game has been fantastic for my development.

"I'm always listening and watching guys go about their business.

"So it's nice to take a step back and watch the game from afar, and not so much be the one trying to lead the game."

2017-18 International Fixtures

Gillette ODI Series v England

Australia ODI squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye, Cameron White, Adam Zampa.

England ODI squad: Eoin Morgan (c), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Alex Hales, Dawid Malan, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.

First ODI England won by five wickets at the MCG

Second ODI England won by four wickets at the Gabba

Third ODI England won by 16 runs at the SCG

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Tickets

Fifth ODI Perth Stadium, January 28. Tickets

Prime Minister's XI

PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Tickets

Gillette T20 trans-Tasman Tri-Series

Australia T20 squad: David Warner (c), Aaron Finch (vc), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Travis Head, Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, D'Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa.

England T20 squad: Eoin Morgan (c), Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Dawid Malan, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, James Vince, David Willey, Mark Wood.

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Tickets

Second T20I Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Tickets

Third T20I Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Tickets

Fourth T20I NZ v England, Wellington, February 14

Fifth T20I NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final TBC, Eden Park, February 21