Head’s in a fight to save spot

TEST great Mike Hussey believes Travis Head could now be the man in the Boxing Day selection gun.

Hussey and former keeper Brad Haddin think selectors will stick with young allrounder Cameron Green for the MCG showdown with India, which means a batsman has to go if opener David Warner recovers from his groin injury.

Warner has been in Melbourne since the weekend rehabbing the injury and a selection decision could be avoided if he’s ruled out.

But Hussey said Wade, who moved up the order to open with Joe Burns in the first Test in Adelaide in Warner’s absence, was more likely to keep his spot and Head, who made a Boxing Day century last summer against New Zealand, could miss out.

“I think they will persevere and keep Cameron Green in the side because of that balance that he offers,” Hussey said on Fox Cricket’s The Follow On podcast

“I think it comes down to who they prefer more, Wade or Travis Head, in the next Test. I’m not sure which way I’d go. It’s a tough call. Head was vice-captain last year.

“If I had to make a call and I had to get off the fence, I’d probably lean towards Matthew Wade staying.”

Head came in to the Test summer following two massive Sheffield Shield hundreds for South Australia, including an innings of 171 not out.

But he was out for just seven in Australia’s first innings and while Wade only made eight opening the batting for the first time, he looked better making 33 in the second innings before a freakish run out.

“I thought Matty Wade actually looked pretty good out there, particularly in the second innings,” Hussey said.

Haddin said Wade was the “only choice” to open and it would be hard to leave him out of the second Test.

“I would find a spot, a way, to keep Matthew Wade in the team,” Haddin said.

“Travis Head, I he’s developing.” still think