Australia batter Travis Head is expecting teenage opener Sam Konstas to return to the Test fold at this year's ICC World Test Championship Final against South Africa.
The popular lefthander was awarded the Allan Border Medal late on Monday as Australia's top men's cricketer in 2024, crushing second-placed paceman Josh Hazlewood in the voting.
England’s marathon run-scoring duo, Australia’s swashbuckling left-hander and India’s pace-bowling icon made for a stellar list of nominees for the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy.
Aggressive number five Head is the highest run scorer in the five-match series, plundering centuries at both Adelaide and Brisbane.
While he was dismissed for just 11 in his first innings of the series, Head went on to hit 89, 140 and 152 in his next three outings.
Head scored a magnificent 152 and Smith a gritty 101 at the Gabba in Brisbane to put Australia into a strong position to go 2-1 up in the five-Test series.
The pink-ball Test in Adelaide between Australia and India saw tempers flare during a high-stakes five-match series with significant World Test Championship implications.
Head produced match-winning hundreds on both occasions when Australia beat India in the finals of the World Test Championship and the 50-overs World Cup last year.
Travis Head blazed a sparkling 140 as Australia seized control of the day-night second Test against India, getting all out for 337 on day two in Adelaide on Saturday, building a 157-run lead after the first innings.
The men in orange also reached three figures in the quickest time in the history of the format
"[Our total] needs a three in front of it, does it now?" Head said at the end of the Hyderabad innings on Monday.
Head smashed the fourth fastest century in IPL history.
Sunrisers Hyderabad posted 277-3 for the highest-ever Indian Premier League total in a match against Mumbai Indians with Heinrich Klaasen unbeaten on 80 off 34 balls on Wednesday.
Travis Head earlier contracted the virus after the first Test in Adelaide but tested negative on Tuesday after flying to Brisbane on his own ahead of the second match of the series.
An inspired spell of bowling from Josh Hazlewood and a brilliant attacking century from Travis Head put Australia in complete control of the first Test against the West Indies in Adelaide on Thursday.
The ICC revealed the nominees for the award, which is called the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy, in its website today.
“It's a lot better than seeing the World Cup on the couch at home,” said Travis Head as a smile crept across his face.
The 29-year-old's remarkable return from a broken hand that nearly ruled him out of the tournament was capped by him joining Adam Gilchrist and fellow legend Ricky Ponting as Australians to have made tons in deciding matches of the pinnacle men's ODI event.
"To win another World Cup in the manner and circumstance they have is one of the finest victories in our sporting history I reckon."
