Swashbuckling opening batsman Travis Head was released from Australia`s T20I squad for the remainder of the five-match shortest format series against Team India.
He will feature in the Sheffield Shield as part of his preparations for the much-anticipated Ashes series against England. The first match of the Ashes series between Australia and England is scheduled to be played on November 21 in Perth.
The left-hander will play along with Alex Carey for South Australia against Tasmania. The match will also mark his first appearance in first-class matches since the tour of the West Indies in July.
He has been enduring a rough patch in white-ball cricket over the last month, as his top score is just 31 runs in eight innings across T20Is and ODIs. Earlier, he smashed 142 runs against South Africa in August.
Travis Head is also the third member of Australia`s T20I squad, who has prioritised preparing for the five-match Test series against the “Three Lions”.
The other two players to do so are star pacers Josh Hazlewood and Sean Abbott. The duo had featured in all three T20I matches of the India series so far. They will now play for New South Wales in a star-studded match against Victoria at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
According to a report in cricket.com.au, the selectors had left the decision to Head whether to play in the Shield or the remaining two T20I matches against the “Men in Blue”. But the 31-year-old batsman had opted to make his appearance in the domestic competition.
The report also said that every member of Australia`s likely squad for the first Ashes Test will feature in the next round of the Sheffield Shield.
Head played one early round of the Sheffield Shield leading into last summer`s Border-Gavaskar Trophy series and finished as its leading run scorer.
On the other hand, Team India`s star spinner, Kuldeep Yadav, has also been released from the squad. He will likely make his appearance in India A series against South Africa A.
The five-match T20I series between India and Australia is tied 1-1 after three matches. The last two matches will be played at Carrara (November 6) and Brisbane (November 8).
(With PTI Inputs)