Adelaide: Upon reaching his first one-day international century for Australia, Travis Head looked to the heavens. There could be little mistaking the reason.
A South Australian teammate of the late Phillip Hughes, Head said he thought of the former Test opener every time he went out to bat, and said he hoped he had made Hughes proud with his 128 against Pakistan on Australia Day at Adelaide Oval. "Every time you go out to bat I think of the little man," Head said following Australia's 57-run win over the tourists in the fifth and final ODI.
"Another special moment, tick the box off, and hopefully I did the little man proud."
Head had been in the SA team when Hughes was fatally struck by a bouncer during a Sheffield Shield match in November 2014.
On Thursday, Head combined with David Warner (179) to make 284 for the first wicket, an Australian partnership record for any wicket in ODI cricket.
The South Australian had been recalled to the opener's slot having made 39 atop the order in the first match of the series in Brisbane. He was disappointed to have lost his opener's spot to Usman Khawaja after that match, but having displaced Khawaja ahead of this dead rubber, Head now says he wants to make the position his own.
Khawaja and Warner will both miss the looming Chappell-Hadlee ODI series in New Zealand as they prepare for the subsequent Test tour of India, meaning Head will likely contest for the two opening slots alongside Shaun Marsh and Aaron Finch, both of whom have been recalled.
While he said he was happy to bat wherever he was needed, Head now has a chance to further stake his claim for an opener's role ahead of the Champions Trophy later this year in England. "As a batter I'd love to bat as high as I possibly can, and that's fantastic," Head said.
"I was very disappointed after that going back down the order, that I wasn't able to capitalise on that opportunity, but it's nice to get out there, get first crack at it and make runs. But I'm happy to do the job wherever's needed."
He added that he didn't know whether he'd be opening against the Black Caps, or shift down the order again. "I'm happy to go game by game and just be in the side. I love playing cricket for Australia."
