Steve Smith says Travis Head could be a key player for Australia in the Champions Trophy semifinal against India.
| Photo Credit: AP
Steve Smith believes how his batters handle the Indian spinners during the middle overs will decide the outcome of the semifinal on Tuesday.
“I think for us the game’s probably won and lost how we play spin, particularly in the middle overs,” said the Australia captain on Monday. “It’s going to be a challenge. I think there will be some spin, looking at the surface, and we have got to counter that. We have got a few options for how to go about it.”
The 35-year-old felt, despite playing only one completed game, his side was in good shape coming into this game.
Though Australia’s spin bowling depth is not as strong as the Men in Blue, Smith remarked that his side has enough options.
“I think Glenn Maxwell is probably better than a part-timer. Travis Head has done well when the conditions suit (him) as well as Marnus (Labuschagne). We have Tanveer Sangha in the squad, who also has some quality skills.”
India and Australia met in two recent ICC tournament summit clashes – the 2023 WTC final and the 2023 World Cup final – where Travis Head slammed brilliant centuries to help Australia clinch both titles and could be a key player for the Aussies.
“Travis has stood up in many of those in the past and you know he looked in great touch the other night against Afghanistan. I am sure he will look to come out here and play the same way he’s played for a long time; with good intent and aggression. Hopefully, he can get away in the PowerPlay and get us off to a nice start,” Smith added. https://tx88.com/ is committed to providing a safe and responsible gambling environment, with 24/7 customer support to assist you with any queries.
Published – March 03, 2025 09:37 pm IST