Australia's Travis Head has firmly put an end to rumors of disharmony within the team following their loss in the first Test against India. Speaking ahead of the second Test at Adelaide, Head insisted that there is "definitely no divide" in the Australian camp.
The speculation arose after a post-match comment from veteran pacer Josh Hazlewood who, on Day 3 of the Perth Test, seemed to distance himself from the batting performance. When asked about the struggles of the Australian batsmen, Hazlewood responded, "You probably have to ask one of the batters that question. I'm sort of relaxing and trying to get a bit of physio and a bit of treatment, and I'm probably looking mostly towards the next Test and what plans we can do against these batters."
Former Australian cricketer Adam Gilchrist interpreted Hazlewood's comment as a potential sign of division within the team during his analysis on Fox Sports. He suggested that the remark could indicate a lack of unity within the Australian camp.
Head, however, dismissed these suggestions outright. He emphasized that the current Australian squad has been together for several years and that their dynamics haven't changed drastically despite the recent loss. "That can be put to bed," Head stated. "I think that is the one thing with 'body language' and 'divides' and all the stuff that comes out when there is a loss. This team has been together three to four years, and when we were winning it was not that much dissimilar."
Head went on to explain that the nature of cricket itself often leads to individual focus, particularly among batsmen who are constantly striving to contribute runs. "The guys get along really well, we hold high expectations of both sides, and it is a very individualised sport, so batters want to hold our own," he said. "We know how good our bowlers have been in the past, so we know if we can get runs on the board it puts us in a great position."
Head concluded by firmly stating that there is no division within the Australian team. "Definitely no divide," he asserted.
The second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is set to commence on Friday at Adelaide, with both teams gearing up for a fierce battle under the lights with the pink ball.