Travis Head to miss last two T20Is to feature in Sheffield Shield

New Delhi: Australia opener Travis Head has been released from the ongoing T20I series against India to turn out for South Africa in the next round of the Sheffield Shield. The move comes as part of Cricket Australia's plan to manage player workloads and ensure red-ball readiness ahead of the Ashes.

Head featured in the first three matches of the five-match series and now will shift his focus to red-ball cricket as he joins a growing list of players returning to domestic duties. His South Australian side will face Tasmania in Adelaide from November 10, where Head will reunite with teammate Alex Carey. For the 31-year-old left-hander, this will be his first class appearance since the West Indies tour in July.

The decision was reportedly left to Head himself, and he chose to feature in the Shield to get some red-ball time ahead of the first Ashes Test, which will start from November 21 in Perth.

Head's release continues a clear trend among Australian players prioritising the upcoming Ashes over the on-going white-ball series. Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazelwood are also expected to turn out for New South Wales' Shield fixture against Victoria at the SCG, while all-rounder Cameron Green is set to bowl again for Western Australia at the WACA after recovering from side soreness that delayed his return.

Selectors have been open about their desire to balance workloads across formats and with the Ashes just around the corner, the emphasis has been on ensuring players are in peak condition for the five-Test battle. Every member of Australia’s likely Test squad is expected to feature in this round of the Sheffield Shield.

Head will look to find his rhythm back as he has struggled for runs in limited-overs cricket over the past months, with his highest score of 31 across eight innings since his 142 against South Africa in August. A return to the longer format might help him regain his confidence ahead of the Ashes opener against England.

Head was Australia's top run-scorer in the Sheffield Shield last season and had played one early round before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy last year. His domestic form has often been a strong indicator of his readiness for Test cricket and another solid showing for South Australia would only strengthen his position in the batting order against England.

The five-match T20I series between India and Australia currently stands level at 1-1 after three games. The final two fixtures will be played in Gold Coast on November 6 and Brisbane on November 8. Head's absence means Ashes will test the bench strength while he prepares for the summer's biggest challenge.