In order to play in the Sheffield Shield ahead of the Ashes, opening batsman Travis Head was released from Australia’s T20 International squad on Monday for the final two games against India.
In preparation for the first Ashes Test, which begins in Perth on November 21, the 31-year-old left-hander will play alongside Alex Carey for South Australia against Tasmania in Hobart on November 10.
He hasn’t played in a first-class game since the West Indies tour in July. After scoring 142 against South Africa in August, he has had a comparatively poor run in white-ball cricket over the past month, with a top score of 31 in eight innings between T20Is and ODIs.
Head is the third member of Australia’s Twenty20 International team to put preparation for the five-Test series against England first.
The other two, Josh Hazlewood and Sean Abbott, have both played against India in the opening T20 series games. The two will now represent New South Wales against Victoria at the SCG in a star-studded match.
According to a report in cricket.com.au, the selectors left it up to Head to decide whether to play in the Shield or the final two Twenty20 Internationals against India. He chose to participate in the domestic competition.
Every member of Australia’s probable Ashes Test squad will play in the upcoming Sheffield Shield season, according to the report.
Before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series last summer, Head participated in one early Sheffield Shield round and ended as the team’s top run scorer.
After three games, the five-match Twenty20 International series between Australia and India is level 1-1. The final two games will take place in Carrara on November 6 and Brisbane on November 8.
