Exclusive: Stopping Travis Head Is Non-Negotiable Warns Jofra Archer’s Former Mentor

Beating Australia in a day-night Test looks nearly impossible, especially in their backyard. 

They have won 13 out of 14 outings, except for one instance when West Indies sprung a surprise last year at the Gabba, the venue for the second Ashes Test starting on Thursday.

It's been barely a week since the Travis Head assault (123 off 83) in Perth, which took the Aussies home by eight wickets on a tricky wicket. And if England has to win in Brisbane, they will have to plan for Head exclusively, as the southpaw holds the top three fastest centuries under the lights with the pink ball. 

Last year, he smashed a 111-ball ton against India, bettering his previous record against England off 112 balls in 2021. The third century was against the West Indies, off 125 balls, in 2022.

THE HEAD PROBLEM: WHERE TO BOWL?

Head has been a red-ball superstar for the Aussies with 10 centuries and 20 fifties. Nine out of 10 tons came in Australia, where he averages 52.37. When he is on song, he can unsettle any top bowler.

How and where should one bowl to Head? 

"The bowlers can't give him width, like most left-handers. He doesn't look too comfortable against the short ball, but it should be accurate. Otherwise, he will create room as he moves around the crease so much. One has to hit the pitch hard, and a right-armer coming over the wicket to begin with, will be trying to get him out lbw, but you need to switch around," fast bowling coach Steffan Jones, who has mentored the likes of Stuart Broad and Jofra Archer, told Sportsboom.co.uk. 

Among English pacers, former player Broad has been particularly successful against Head. In addition, Indian quicks Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj have dismissed him multiple times. 

"That's why Broad and Siraj have been effective against him. They have come around the wicket to cramp him up, hit the back of the length hard on the fourth stump."

"The odd short-ball has to be into the body. The key message is simple: if you give him width, he will punish you. No faulty half volleys either. He is very susceptible in the first 10 balls. If he gets through that, he is effective, and his strike-rates in one-dayers go up to 120, and in T20Is, it goes up to 170, and that's the way he played in the last Test match. You have to pick him early, and you can't allow him free balls where he can use his arms. Coming around the wicket for Archer will be effective, and he could be the one to get him," added Jones, who has been a coach in the Indian Premier League with Rajasthan Royals in the past.

CURBING HIS SHOT-MAKING PROWESS

Head thrives on momentum. In the Border-Gavaskar Trophy last year, he smashed consecutive centuries in Adelaide and Brisbane. In 2025, he smashed 524 runs overall, including three fifties and a hundred in the Perth Test.

Jones, who runs Pacelab, a science-driven fast bowling program that trains bowlers and coaches around the world, said that one has to curb Head's shot-making prowess. 

"He is likely to get away at point or square-leg. If his good shot goes for one run, he will get frustrated as he wants the bat on the ball, so you have to make sure his good shot gets one run only. You don't want him to shift the momentum. He is very much a momentum batter."

England have not won a game at the Gabba since 1986, and have won only two day-night Test matches, against the West Indies in 2017 and against New Zealand in 2023. They have suffered three losses against Australia, one each against India and New Zealand. 

It remains to be seen if Ben Stokes and Co can turn the tide and level the series 1-1.