Travis Head is the reason why Australia won the World Cup. No man had a greater impact in the finals or won more games off his own bat.
But the ICC was right not to have him in its team of the tournament.
Despite emphatically claiming a sixth 50-over world title on Sunday, Australia had only two players – Glenn Maxwell and Adam Zampa – make the official World Cup XI, while runners-up India supplied five. It is a reflection of their unbeaten run to the final, though many would be forgiven for thinking India had won the title.
Some will argue that the team selection is a stitch-up, given India’s cricketing might and power. But remember, this Indian team made it through the tournament undefeated until the final. Australia’s supposed snub by selectors adds to the merit of their achievement.
It speaks volumes to their greater depth and how nearly every member of their squad made key contributions when their moment arrived. This is how World Cups are won.
Head is a prime example. As important as he was to Australia’s success with his player-of-the-match performances in the semi and the final, he played only a minor role in getting them out of the group stage, due in part to injury.
Almost 94 per cent of Head’s runs came in three of six innings; it is a testament to his ultra-attacking game and his temperament that two of his big scores came in the matches that mattered most.
Despite his heroics in the World Cup final, Travis Head was left out of the ICC’s team of the tournament.Credit: Getty
If Shane Watson, the sole Australian presence on the five-person ICC panel that selected the team of the tournament, viewed matters through a green and gold lens he would have found it difficult to convince his co-selectors the event’s 25th leading run-scorer (66th after the group stage) deserved a top-order berth, even if finals weighting is applied.
Why the ICC was right to leave Travis Head out of the team of the World Cup
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21.11.2023
Travis Head is the reason why Australia won the World Cup. No man had a greater impact in the finals or won more games off his own bat.
But the ICC was right not to have him in its team of the tournament.
Despite emphatically claiming a sixth 50-over world title on Sunday, Australia had only two players – Glenn Maxwell and Adam Zampa – make the official World Cup XI, while runners-up India supplied five. It is a reflection of their unbeaten run to the........
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