'Get him off strike': Broad's strategy to tame Travis Head
What's the story
England fast-bowling great Stuart Broad has shared a strategy to silence Australia's Travis Head in the ongoing Ashes series. Broad's suggestion comes after Head's match-winning century in the first Test, which gave Australia a 1-0 lead in the five-match ICC World Test Championship series. The left-handed batsman was promoted to open with debutant Jake Weatherald due to regular opener Usman Khawaja's back spasms and scored an impressive 123, leading Australia to victory.
Strategy suggestion
Broad's advice to England's pace attack
Broad, who is fifth on the all-time Test wicket-takers list with 604 scalps, thinks England's pace attack was too impatient against Head. He has urged them to try different tactics in the remaining Ashes matches. "What they could have done when Travis Head was really going, then you have to use your awareness to say, 'Let's get him off strike,'" Broad told Australian radio station SEN.
Tactical insight
Broad's tactical approach to handling Head
Broad suggested that England's pacers should frustrate Head and make him play differently. He said, "What they could have done when Travis Head was really going, then you have to use your awareness to say, 'Let's get him off strike, let's let him face one ball an over and it's a clip off his hip and he gets one and you don't let him face four, five balls an over.'"
Pressure tactics
Broad's strategy to create pressure on Labuschagne
Broad also emphasized the importance of getting Head off strike as it would bring Marnus Labuschagne to the facing end. He said, "And crucially, when you get him off strike, Marnus Labuschagne comes down to the facing end, you bowl dots at him and create pressure on him." This way, Broad believes England could have made Head try something outrageous and possibly get out.
Future plans
Broad's expectations for England's strategy
Broad expects England to use the time before the second Test in Brisbane, starting December 4, to devise new strategies for Australia's batters. He said, "It's the first time that I've seen Ben Stokes not have a tactical answer on the pitch." Broad was surprised by Head's innings and noted that England had only prepared for him coming in at No.5 but he opened due to Khawaja's injury.