Australia opener Travis Head has been released from T20I squad for the remaining two games of the five-T20I series against Suryakumar Yadav-led India. Head, who was dismissed for a single-digit score in Hobart, will prepare for the Ashes 2025-26 with a Sheffield Shield match for South Australia against Tasmania starting November 10 at the same venue.
Head hasn't played a red-ball game since Australia's tour of West Indies. Since the century against South Africa, he has registered four single-digit scores from eight innings. He hasn't score a single fifty during this period. The Australian team management will look to get him back to the groove as selectors already face a conundrum in the top order.
Players absent or returning to T20I squad
Not just Head, Sean Abbott will leave the T20I squad as well as he will play New South Wales' next match under Steve Smith's captaincy. Also, leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha was released from the T20I squad to play a One-Day Cup match for New South Wales against Queensland on November 3. Sangha was added to the squad as Adam Zampa is with his family, awaiting the birth of his second child.
Earlier, it was announced that left-arm pacer Ben Dwarshuis will be available to play last two games of the series. Dwarshuis was nursing a calf strain that kept him out of the ODI series.
How the batting order may change after Head’s departure
In Head’s absence, Matt Short may be promoted to the opening role which he has often taken up in franchise cricket. Also, they have an option to promote Mitchell Owen and keep Josh Philippe in the middle order. If Glenn Maxwell returns after recovering from wrist surgery, Australia’s middle-order will be strengthened.
With a five-wicket win, India levelled the series 1-1. The fourth T20I will be played at Bill Pippen Oval, Gold Coast on November 6.
Australia’s updated T20I squad for remaining matches vs India -
Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Mahli Beardman, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Ben McDermott (standby player) Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis (wk), Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitchell Owen, Josh Philippe (wk), Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Tanveer Sangha.