Australian batsman Travis Head expressed his desire to avoid being dropped frequently in the future, following his remarkable batting performance against India on Day 1 of the World Test Championship Final at The Oval.
Head's explosive innings on Wednesday saw him score an unbeaten 146 off 156 balls, including 22 fours and a six. Notably, it marked his first century overseas and also the first-ever hundred in the history of the prestigious WTC finale.
With his unbeaten 146, Head has now amassed 1354 runs in the World Test Championship, maintaining an impressive average of 58.86 and a strike rate of 81.91.
Reflecting on his previous exclusion from the playing eleven during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy earlier this year, Head revealed that he holds no lingering resentment towards the decision. He emphasized that he feels privileged to be in his current position and remains focused on being consistent on and off the field.
"It honestly doesn't faze me. Very privileged to be where I am and do what I do. We've got a very strong squad of guys, selection isn't always going to go your way, it hasn't in the past, that's out of my control. All I can do is be as consistent as I can be on the field, [and] off the field enjoy myself," Head stated, as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.
While expressing his desire to play every Test match, the Australian batter acknowledged that it may not always be the case. He maintained a positive perspective and stated that being dropped won't provide him with extra motivation. However, he believes he has a lot to contribute to the team and feels valued and supported by the staff, captain, and players.
Head's unbeaten partnership of 251 runs with Steve Smith propelled Australia to a commanding position, with the team finishing the opening day of the WTC Final at 327/3, firmly in control against India at The Oval.