Flood of memories await as Head returns to Worcester

If the atmosphere he encountered fielding on the boundary and in front of Edgbaston's rollicking Hollies Stand was like nothing he'd previously experienced, then the tour game starting at Worcester should be as familiar as a favourite jumper to Travis Head.

Not only is the Australia Test vice-captain returning to the county where he played a fleeting role in red and white-ball cricket last English summer, he will be facing his South Australia teammate Callum Ferguson who replaced him on the Worcestershire roster.

Head was signed by the Midlands county for the 2018 season, but played just five championship games and a further four one-day cup matches before he was called up to lead an Australia A tour to India a year ago.

Image Id: 8C9712E4296D4E1BA94CC61F4B270454 Image Caption: Head bats for Worcestershire // Getty

But after the 25-year-old played a couple of vital middle-order innings in Australia's remarkable 251-run win against England in the Ashes opener at Edgabston, he returns to Worcester brimming with confidence and comfortable in his surrounds.

That reassurance coming from his previous experiences in the picturesque medieval town on the banks of the River Severn, and the composure and combativeness he showed in the heat of his first Ashes contest.

Head was involved in crucial first innings (64 runs, of which he scored 35) and second innings (51 out of 130) stands with player of the match Steve Smith, which enabled Australia to turn a bleak outlook into a 1-0 series lead.

And although Head was left frustrated by his inability to mimic Smith and turn the starts he made into match-defining hundreds, he learned enough from batting with the modern maestro for the first time in Tests to feel enriched by his experience.

In his own words, the pre-occupation with Smith that England's bowlers understandably felt allowed Head to feel he had slipped under their radar, and able to ease himself into each innings after starting cautiously.

"I'm happy with the way I started, and obviously disappointed not to go on with it in the first and second innings," Head reflected prior to the three-day tour game the precedes next week's second Test at Lord's.

Image Id: 0D8A451A098A48129F2407CFCB97D18A Image Caption: Head and Smith shared considerable time at the crease together at Edgbaston // Getty

"I was a bit flat about leaving Steve out there (in the first innings), and it was fortunate that the tail was able to stay with him.

"All I was concentrating on, walking out there on day one (with Australia 3-35) was being able to build a partnership.

"And all I was thinking about during (the Test) was being in the contest.

"I was really only worried about getting into the contest, competing hard, having good battles against the bowlers.

"I feel like I can get in a nice rhythm with him (Smith) at the other end.

"You know he's not going anywhere … and I pride myself on making a contribution, and trying to have really good partnerships.

"For me, it's about continuing to do the basics really well and capitalising when I get the opportunity."

Head's not sure what sort of opportunity will present itself in the match against Worcestershire at the New Road Ground, where his Australia A outfit was due to play last June until heavy summer rains rendered the flood-prone venue under almost a metre of water.

The match was shifted to an alternative venue at nearby Kidderminster, where wet weather also led to it being abandoned without a ball bowled.

But the first two days of the tour game are expected to be met by fine weather (with rain forecast on Friday), so Head will welcome the chance to re-acquaint himself with his former home ground and further fine tune his red-ball skills in English conditions.

Worcestershire currently sits second-bottom on the division two county ladder as the English season enters its final red-ball phase, and they will be without opening bat Daryl Mitchell and ex-South Africa quick Wayne Parnell due to injury and illness.

Regular keeper Ben Cox and first XI all-rounder Ed Barnard have also been rested from the three-day fixture from which Australia stars Smith, David Warner, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon will be absent.

Image Id: FDD7C066BDE442DDB5F1945054E45BBA Image Caption: Callum Ferguson bats for Worcestershire // Getty

However, in addition to Head's Redbacks teammate and former Australia Test representative Ferguson, the home team will feature highly rated England under-19 batter Jack Haynes.

From his previous outings at New Road, Head is expecting a slow-ish pitch on which batting should prove more straightforward than was the case on the dry, worn surface at Edgbaston during the Test's final days.

And he's certainly expecting the crowd at Worcester, which is renowned throughout the England county circuit for its home-made cakes stall that draws vast numbers for afternoon tea, to be more welcoming than were the parochial England fans in the Hollies Stand.

Image Id: 7AD615A7573848558EDAB67107E82CA0 Image Caption: The surrounds of the New Road Ground in Worcester // Getty

"I definitely felt the buzz out there," Head admitted, having spent much of the second and fifth days of the Test patrolling the outfield in close proximity to the boisterous barrackers.

"I spent a lot of time out on the boundary in the five days, so I got the full experience.

"It was good, friendly banter.

"I didn't give them a lot, I just stood there and kept my head down and a lot of it got passed over my head.

"I think the (Australia) guys react really well to it, I think they took it all in pretty good nature.

"It won’t be quite the same atmosphere (in Worcester), but I’m looking forward to going back to New Road.

"I hope they field a good side."

2019 Qantas Ashes Tour of England

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c), Cameron Bancroft, Pat Cummins, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner.

England squad: Joe Root (c), Moeen Ali, Jimmy Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes (vc), Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.

First Test: Australia beat England by 251 runs at Edgbaston

Tour match: Australians v Worcestershire, August 7-9

Second Test: August 14-18,Lord's

Third Test: August 22-26, Headingley

Tour match: Australians v Derbyshire, August 29-31

Fourth Test: September 4-8, Old Trafford

Fifth Test: September 12-16, The Oval