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Katich: Why Head not opening in Brisbane would be a step back
Nicholas Quinlan • November 23rd, 2025 8:37 pm
Former Australian Test opener Simon Katich believes that the national selectors would be regressing the team if they don't have Travis Head opening the batting in the Second Test following his performance in Perth on Saturday.
Having been given the opening duties alongside debutant Jake Weatherald following Usman Khawaja’s lower back spasms that saw him off the field during the second innings, the South Australian made the most of the opportunity.
In the 83 balls that he faced as the hosts chased down England’s target of 205, Head, who usually bats at No. 5, walloped 16 fours and six sixes, which saw him make a total of 123 runs before losing his wicket.
This would see Australia chase down the target within a session as they claimed an eight-wicket victory within the space of two days.
And while Katich notes that the leadership group of coach Andrew McDonald and captains Pat Cummins and Steve Smith have remained consistent with their game plans and line-ups, they would be silly not to keep Head at the top of the order.
“Look, they are very consistent in their thinking and how they treat players,” he said on SEN.
“That’s one thing that has stood out with this selection group with Andrew McDonald, Pat Cummins and Steve Smith filling in now.
“And the selectors have been in that thinking where they do respect the guys that have been doing the business for them.
“But in this situation, what we saw yesterday and the damage it did to the English team.
“The other part of this is we talked about complementing each other before, Marnus Labuschagne. I don’t think it is a coincidence that he batted really well because he came in with less pressure on him.
“He was able to play a lot more freely, and we saw the best version of Marnus Labuschagne because of what Travis Head has done.
“I think Australia would be taking a step backward if they were to stop Travis Head opening.”
With Head’s success, this will likely mean that Khawaja would be the man out at Brisbane, considering the injury cloud he is currently under following the First Test.
And while he has been able to perform for his state, the 56-time Test representative feels that there is a reason why there are so few openers who play at this high a level at the age of 38 years old.
“I have no idea what he is thinking or how bad his back is, but he didn’t look great in this Test match,” Katich added.
“For him to come off, he’s a tough cricketer. He’s experienced a lot of setbacks in his career, both physically and mentally, with being in and out of the team.
“And he’s deserved his renaissance late in his career.
“But in this situation here, being the team man that he is, he will be seriously considering what happens next.
“I’m sure he is backing himself to come good and make runs in this series.
“Because he has been making some runs for Queensland in the Shield, but it is a big difference between that level at the moment and facing this attack.
“England would be buoyed by what they saw on Day 1 with their bowlers, and now they have to be good enough to swing that back around and bat for longer to give their bowlers a chance against to expose this Australian batting line-up to sheer pace.
“There will be a lot of scrutiny with what has happened yesterday. He’s not stupid enough not to pay any attention to that. He’ll be knowing that this is coming, and I don’t know if he was thinking that this would be his last summer or not.
“But the facts are that not a lot of 38-year-olds open the batting in Test cricket, the history of the game has shown that over 100+ years.
“He would be wise enough to realise that the end is getting close.”
The Second Test will take place at the Gabba on December 4, with SEN having LIVE coverage of every ball bowled.
