Travis Head came to India as the man in best form among the Australian batters. But after being surprisingly dropped for the first Test, the left-handed Head is now ready to fit in wherever the team wants him.

Usually a middle-order batsman, Head had to open the innings in the Delhi Test after David Warner’s injury. He will again doff the opener’s hat in the third Test, in Indore, alongside Usman Khawaja.

Talking to reporters about his omission from the opening Test, the 29-year-old Head said: “It was something that I didn’t expect coming here. The conversations were robust. Everyone has different opinions. I respect the coaching staff and selectors and I have a strong relationship with them.

“I think that’s what made the conversations the way they went, because there’s respect that goes both ways and we were able to voice our opinions.

“I woke up the next morning and I’m still on tour playing for Australia, I still get to do what I love to do. I’d love to be competing and playing but there’s another way I can support the guys... I still feel like I’m in a great space.”

After being recalled for the second Test, Head scored 12 and 43. The second innings knock, opening the innings, was an aggressive knock that took the Indians by surprise.

“It was a small sample piece, but over here small sample pieces can be a little bit of gold to hopefully push on for the next two Tests. After missing out in the first Test, I’d bat anywhere that the team needed me to get a game.”

With Australia 0-2 down in the four-match series, bouncing back will be a massive challenge and Head acknowledged that.

“I think the communication and the relationships that we’ve built is why this team has been so strong and why this team has stayed together for a period of time. We’re always gonna have moments that aren’t the greatest or isn’t the best we want it. Those things happen. We accept them but we’ve also got to find a way to get better at it.”

Written with inputs from PTI

Maxwell’s verdict: Outstanding

Glenn Maxwell. File picture

Melbourne: Unlike most of his countrymen, and the rest of the world as well, Glenn Maxwell feels Australia were “outstanding” in the first two Tests against India barring the one self-destructing session in Delhi on Day III when they lost nine wickets for 52 runs.

“I think they’ve shown a lot of fight. Bar that one session, I thought they were outstanding. It’s bloody difficult over there — it’s not an easy place to play, it’s so foreign for us.

“But I feel like, apart from a couple of little moments, we’ve been in the fight, we’ve been matching India at different times and they’ve shown a lot of fight,” the all-rounder was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald.

Maxwell, not a part of the touring Test team, has a Test century in India. “It’s just sticking it out for a little bit longer and I’m sure that’ll be the message, to keep trying to stay up with India and take a hold of those key moments.”

Maxwell has been named in the squad for the ODI series in India, beginning March 17.

Written with inputs from PTI