Ricky Ponting has commended Travis Head‘s recent performance, hinting at his potential to become a modern batting great. This follows Head’s impressive 140 off 141 balls against India in the Adelaide day-night Test. This performance secured him the Player of the Match award and contributed to Australia’s ten-wicket victory, leveling the series at 1-1.
Ponting, speaking on the ICC Review show, acknowledged Head’s rising prominence. He stopped short of definitively labeling him a “great” at this stage.
“He’s on the way to being one of those (greats). I don’t think you can call him great just yet. That’s no knock on what he’s doing because what he’s doing has been spectacular, especially in critical moments,” said Ponting.
Over the past 18 months, Head has consistently performed well against India. He has been instrumental in crucial matches. This includes his 163 in the 2023 World Test Championship final and his 137 in the ODI World Cup final of the same year.
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Ponting compared Head’s playing style to that of Adam Gilchrist. He noted their shared aggressive approach and fearless attitude at the crease.
“The obvious one is Gilly. The way that Head plays is in a very similar way to the way that Gilchrist played, albeit a couple of positions higher in the batting order. Gilly was a six or seven, and Travis is doing his damage at No.5,” Ponting remarked.
Ponting emphasized Head’s fearless attitude as a key factor in his success. This mentality allows him to focus on positive outcomes rather than the fear of dismissal.
“It’s Travis’s attitude that allows him to play the way that he’s played. He’s not scared of getting out. He doesn’t care about the negative result. He’s only seeing the positive outcome in everything that he does.”
Head’s ability to perform under pressure has been a defining characteristic. Ponting highlighted his contributions in the Ashes, World Cup semi-finals, and finals as examples.
