Reappointed as Australia’s vice-captain for Test matches, Travis Head is the front-runner to succeed Pat Cummins if the national captain chooses to walk down. This is evident from the World Cup hero’s appointment.
Before Thursday’s opening Test of the home summer against Pakistan in Perth, Head, Cummins, and fellow vice-captain Steve Smith were appointed to Australia’s leadership team.
Earlier in 2019, when Tim Paine was the national captain, the 29-year-old was named vice-captain for Tests. However, he did not retain the role after being benched during the 2020–21 Border–Gavaskar Trophy.
Encouraging his teammates to take on leadership roles is crucial for Australia’s long-term succession plan, Cummins said in a Wednesday interview with reporters in Perth.
Head has become an indispensable member of the national team in all forms after being removed from the Test squad in February. After smashing 163 at The Oval to help Australia win the Ashes urn in England, he was awarded as the player of the match of the World Cup final against India.
The left-hander, who was awarded player of the match against South Africa, crushed 137 in last month’s thrilling World Cup final against India.
Early on, Head’s leadership abilities were recognized, as he was selected to captain South Australia’s Sheffield Shield team before turning 22. Along with leading the Adelaide Strikers to their first-ever Big Bash League championship in 2018, he has captained the Redbacks in 27 List A games.
