Ian Chappell warns Australia against moving Travis Raise order for Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25

Former Australian cricketer Ian Chappell issued a stern warning to Pat Cummins and the Australian team about the possible departure of Travis Head from the opener in the upcoming game Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India.

After retirement David Warner from Test cricket, Australia found themselves facing a major problem in batting. While Steve Smith temporarily filled the opener’s role, his poor performance—averaging just 28.5—sparked talk of moving him back to his natural number four position. The change in dynamics at the top of the order has left the selectors pondering the best options to ensure a strong start against the fearsome Indian bowling.

Chappell’s insight reflects wider concerns about Australia’s strategy as they prepare for a high-profile series against India. The pressure to find a reliable opener is mounting, especially given the team’s expectations for the home series. Since the previous games have a lot of weight on the players, the managers should evaluate this challenge carefully to create a competitive batting plan.

Concerns about Travis Head’s ability to adapt

Chappell’s main concern is the prospect of Head, who has enjoyed great success at the top of the white-ball formats, being given the task of opening Test cricket. He emphasized that the demands of Test cricket are more complex than those found in limited-overs formats.

In his ESPNcricinfo column, Chappell expressed his views, saying, “Opening with the head in Test cricket is based on his unbridled success against the new ball in both 50 overs and T20 cricket. There is no doubt that Head, with his aggressive style, is the perfect player to open up in two short ways of the game. However, Test cricket is a completely different proposition.”

Chappell’s warning serves as a reminder that while Head has thrived in limited-overs formats, adapting to the nuances of Test cricket—such as handling long spells from quality bowlers and adjusting to different pitch conditions—can be a huge challenge.

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The perils of targeting India’s bowling attack

Chappell elaborated on moving Head into the opener in an attempt to mislead the Indian bowler Jasprit Bumrah it will put unnecessary pressure on the batter. He pointed out that Bumrah, along with another fast bowler Mohammad Sirajit is impossible to change their attack strategies, which makes the task even more difficult for the Chief.

“Any opening move by Head designed to challenge Jasprit Bumrah is asking for a big batsman. Bumrah, and Mohammad Siraj to a lesser extent, are less likely to be beaten to change their attacking mentality,” Chappell added.

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