“They’re filthy if they don’t play. There’s no hiding around that. There’s some bloody hard calls, there’s no doubt about that. [Stand-in captain] Steve [Smith] and the coaching staff and the selectors have made some tough calls in the first two Tests, but when you map it out the way they do … it makes those decisions really easy.”
If Head opens again, Khawaja could slide into the middle order – as flagged by coach Andrew McDonald this week – but there is also a chance the 38-year-old does not wear the baggy green again, having not reached triple figures in his past 21 Test innings in Australia.
Jake Weatherald found his feet in Brisbane.Credit: Getty Images
Head gave a glowing endorsement of Weatherald, a former South Australian teammate.
“I’ve missed him for the last couple of years [while he has been playing for Tasmania],” Head said. “He’s a deep thinker, and he’s up there with Marnus [Labuschagne] and Steve [Smith] … in terms of hitting balls; he just grinds away.
“I think he’s handled Test cricket really well with the style of bowling he’s facing; it’s hostile and fast. Each of the England guys are bowling high speeds, which you don’t get a lot of in one team.
“He’s a great bloke. With our relationship over the years, we’ve just gelled … and it’s like we’re batting [for South Australia] again.”
Head’s blazing hundred in Perth set up victory for Australia. He backed that up with 33 and 22 in Brisbane, scores he said left him frustrated but hungry to make amends in front of family and friends.
“I had a bit of luck in the first innings where I nicked one and got dropped,” he said. “Post that, I felt like I put pressure back on the opposition … and set a really good platform with Jake and the guys behind us.
“The scoreline’s gone to plan, which is good. It’s a nice feeling coming to Adelaide with a chance [to retain the Ashes].”
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As for the Smith and Jofra Archer battle – which ignited again during Australia’s run chase at the Gabba – Head said Adelaide is likely to provide another tantalising chapter.
“If that match-up comes first day in Adelaide, I know how Jofra operates,” Head said. “He’s a competitor and there’s no doubt [in] this series he’s wanted to try and get Smudge [out] as much as he can.
“They’ve got a competitive thing going on at the moment. Let’s see in three Tests time [how it’s going]. The heat of it will die, given we’ve got an eight-day break, but the motivation will be there.
“You want to start well on that first morning. That’s everyone’s priority, to be ready to go in Adelaide.”
