Aakash Chopra reveals bowling plan to Travis Head, says Indian bowlers have looked clueless against left-hander

Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has advised the Indian bowlers to bowl from over the wicket against Travis Head in the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar series. Head has once again proved to be a headache for India in the ongoing Test series.

Head has returned with scores of 89, 140, and 152 in the last three innings against India and he has been a thorn in India’s flesh. Chopra noted that Indian bowlers have looked toothless against Head, who has scored at a rapid pace in the ongoing series. 

The southpaw is the leading run-getter of the series with 409 runs in five innings at an impressive average of 81.80 and a strike rate of 94.24. Head has bagged the Player of the Match in the last two Test matches for his blistering batting.

“We are unable to understand Travis Head at all because whatever we are doing is not right. We played Akash Deep with the thinking that he would trap Travis Head as he comes around the stumps and bowls very well. What is the way to get Travis Head out?” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

“I personally feel bowl over the stumps, don’t go around the stumps, and angle the ball across. Try to consistently bowl the lines the Australians have bowled to Rishabh Pant where you force him to hit square against deliveries that are angled across. Then there is a chance that he might get the outside edge. That’s point one,” he explained.

The renowned commentator added that the visitors can also look to target Travis Head with short deliveries, a ploy that the tourists haven’t yet used consistently.

“The second, I am thinking about the bouncer plan. We don’t bowl bouncers at all. We bowled a few in the second innings. He eventually didn’t get out to a bouncer but to a short ball. That will happen because these are big grounds, you can make a bouncer trap, and consistently attack with that length,” he said.

“You can try to hit the ball on Travis’ head. If you do that, you can stop him. At least, you can expect that. The series is at 1-1, Australia have dominated the last two games, but the difference between the two sides is Head. He suddenly changes the game in one direction,” Chopra observed.

The fourth Test match between India and Australia will be played at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground from 26th December.