Now that he\u2019s in India, he\u2019s bent on repaying it.<\/p>\n
Head was central to Australia\u2019s plans until he suffered a broken left hand in a warm-up match in South Africa last month. Instead of replacing him, the selectors sent him home to see how quickly he could recover while avoiding surgery, meanwhile holding his spot.<\/p>\n
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Travis Head at the team hotel in Delhi.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty Images<\/cite><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not something that I expected at the time,\u201d Head said. \u201c[I went] through a range of emotions through those three or four days early on, to think that I sort of missed a chance. And I felt like I was contributing well.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen it first happened I thought my chances were done. But as those three or four days played out, and [I got] back to Sydney and [saw the] specialist, there was definitely light at the end of the tunnel.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was nice to have the confidence to hold me. A lot had to go right.\u201d<\/p>\n Travis Head in full flight in Bloemfontein before he broke his hand.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty Images<\/cite><\/p>\n Head said he was also conscious that another injury in the squad would have doomed him. Australia could afford to carry one invalid in its 15, but not two.<\/p>\n Head\u2019s left arm and hand have wasted a little after four weeks in a splint, and he said he was not yet back to full power. \u201cI\u2019ve never been a big boy, but it\u2019s definitely a little bit skinny,\u201d he said. \u201cI don\u2019t hit massive sixes anyway, so maybe I\u2019ve just got to keep it on the carpet a little bit more, but I\u2019m not too fazed by it.\u201d<\/p>\n He\u2019s been cautious with fielding and catching drills, but his right, bowling arm is unaffected.<\/p>\n Head said the prospect of rejoining the squad only crystallised in his mind when the splint came off at four weeks and a scan showed that the broken bone was mending at the necessary rate. He resumed by facing tennis balls, then on Saturday power-assisted throwdowns from the Australian coaching panel. He said his progress was necessarily day by day.<\/p>\n Travis Head talks to media in Delhi.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty Images.<\/cite><\/p>\n \u201cI had a really good hit yesterday,\u201d he said. \u201cI think each session is getting better but [I\u2019ve] got to be mindful of the fact that it was five weeks [only] a couple of days ago.<\/p>\n \u201cEverything seems to be going well. But it\u2019s how I wake up this morning. It\u2019s how I can potentially back up tomorrow and train and there\u2019s still a few things I need to tick off.\u201d<\/p>\n Head said he\u2019d never been one to torture himself mentally in these circumstances and the physical pain was bearable. \u201cYou can deal with it as long as I\u2019m not doing any damage to it, and I\u2019ve got the confidence to know that I\u2019m not doing damage to it,\u201d he said. \u201cA little bit of pain\u2019s OK.<\/p>\n \u201cIt feels a lot better than it did last week after a hit. There\u2019s obviously some stiffness here but [it] feels pretty good. It\u2019s important to understand that like the process and not trying to rush it too much because that can set us back, but it feels good.\u201d<\/p>\n Australia face the Netherlands on Wednesday and the selectors must decide whether this relatively straightforward fixture is best used to reintroduce Head, or give him further time to rehabilitate before Australia take on New Zealand next Saturday. When Head does return, the most likely player to make way is Marnus Labuschagne.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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