India offer up short-ball blueprint for Travis Head

India believe they have found a weakness in Travis Head’s game, identifying short-pitched bowling as a way to expose the firing South Australian.

Head was the star of the opening day’s play in the World Test Championship final at The Oval on Wednesday, as he blasted his way to his first overseas Test century.

The 29-year-old plundered India’s attack en route to 146no at stumps, as he regularly flayed the ball off his pads and from outside off stump.

But India maintain they have found an area where they can catch Head out, and potentially provide a blueprint for England during the Ashes.

Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami both peppered the left-hander with short balls after the tea break, in a period where Head was ducking and weaving but still survived.

The left-hander has been out four times to short balls since his return to Australia’s Test team 18 months ago.

However no real pattern of dismissals has emerged in those outs, with two being tickles down legside through to the wicketkeeper.

Regardless, India arrived at The Oval with the plan to target Head and coaching staff believe they should have adopted it earlier in his innings than when he was on 60.

“That’s one definitely discussed amongst our bowlers,” India’s bowling coach Paras Mhambrey said.

“We always felt that that was an area that we could exploit against him.

“We could have done it a little earlier. Maybe 30 or 40 runs before this strategy could have been.”

Head’s runs against India came after he was dropped for the first Test of the tour to India earlier this year, after a poor record previously on the sub-continent.

He was then used to open in place of David Warner for the final two Tests, before moving back to No.5 on Wednesday.

He is now a lock for the Ashes, with his spot as secure as it has been at any point throughout his career.

But the former vice-captain said he had learned not to over-think selection decisions.

“It honestly doesn’t faze me,” he said.

“I’m very privileged to be where I am and do what I do and play cricket for Australia. We’ve got a squad of guys, a very strong squad of guys on the contract list.

“It’s not always going to go my way. It hasn’t in the past. That’s out of my control.

“Yes I’d love to play every single Test match, but that’s not always going to be the case. I think that gives you good perspective for moments like this.”