Ricky Ponting, the former Australia captain, thinks promoting Travis Head to number three in the batting order could give the Aussies an early edge against England’s fast bowlers in the upcoming home Ashes series. He shared this view on SEN radio, as reported on the ICC website.
Australia aims to defend the urn and keep their strong run going in the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle. Ponting says this shift for Head would open up spots for all-rounders Cameron Green and Beau Webster to team up in the middle order, creating a solid lineup.
England’s aggressive style of play calls for someone like Head to step up early and counterattack bowlers such as Jofra Archer and Mark Wood. “That could help Australia take control and dominate the Ashes summer,” Ponting explained.
Head has shone at number five lately, racking up 3,963 runs in 60 Tests at an average of 41.71, including nine centuries. His strike rate of nearly 70 marks him as one of Australia’s most dynamic middle-order batters. Against England at home, he’s scored 357 runs in four Tests during the 2021-22 Ashes, and a total of 910 runs across 13 matches overall.
Ponting knows the value of such a promotion firsthand—he moved from number six to three during the 2001 Ashes and went on to score over 10,000 runs in that spot. He believes Head could unlock even more potential this way.
With the first Ashes Test just months away, Australia’s top order still feels up in the air. Selectors plan to watch the domestic Sheffield Shield season closely before locking in the team for the series Down Under.
Ponting also backs 19-year-old Sam Konstas as the long-term replacement for retired opener David Warner. After Konstas smashed a century for Australia A against India A in a high-scoring draw, Ponting sees him partnering Usman Khawaja at the top. “Konstas did exactly what he needed with that hundred in India,” Ponting said. “I can picture our opening pair as Konstas and Khawaja.”
He envisions Green settling in at number three—especially after his recent promotion in the Caribbean—followed by Steve Smith at four, Head at five, and Webster at six. “I can’t see them dropping Beau for some of the others,” Ponting added.
Turning to England, Ponting notes their team looks more set than Australia’s. Their main weak spot? Number three, where Ollie Pope has struggled. Youngster Jacob Bethell could step in there, as he’s done before.
But the real game-changer for England is captain Ben Stokes’ fitness. Ponting was impressed by Stokes’ bowling in their recent drawn Test series against India, where he took 17 wickets over four matches with long spells. “If Stokes is fit and bowling like that, he’s probably their best bowler right now,” Ponting said. “He’s got his pace back, he’s fitter than ever, and he’s focused on being a long-term all-rounder after giving up drinking.”
If Stokes, Wood, and Archer are all healthy, England will boast a fierce pace attack that could rattle Australia. The Ashes kicks off on November 21 in Perth.
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