Near Adelaide, at Tea Tree Gully: The place where you can find Head's heart
Hindustan Times West UP|December 11, 2024
ADELAIDE: For some time now, Indian players and fans have been asking themselves the same question over and over again because Travis Head finds a way and shows the will to scupper India's hopes over and over again: "Where has this guy come from?"
Ashish Magotra
Near Adelaide, at Tea Tree Gully: The place where you can find Head's heart

There are some easy answers to that question but perhaps the most accurate one takes you on a 40-minute drive from Adelaide CBD (Central Business District). The flat roads give way to hilly terrain, the relatively crowded city landscape gets sparser and quieter with every passing kilometre. A left at the 170-year-old pub, The Gully, gets you closer. And when the trip finally ends you reach the Pertaringa Oval, the home of the Tea Tree Gully Cricket Club.

Tea Tree Gully is affiliated with the South Australian Cricket Association and is one of 13 premier clubs in the SACA competition. It is also Travis Head's club - the place where he learnt his cricket; the place where the then coach, former Australia allrounder Peter Sleep, asked him to abandon wicketkeeping because "there's only one slot for a keeper but six for a batter", and the place where he would return to till recently to work on his game.

On Monday, the Oval itself was a sight. A beautiful, clear day had dawned and a few kids were playing a casual game of cricket. They weren't talking about Head though. Rather, they were trying to replicate Rohit Sharma's bat swing.

"That's not how Rohit hits it," said one of the boys. "It is much smoother and the ball goes so much further. It is the timing, not the power."

That may be a sign of how Indian cricket has grown. But just as the boys wanted to learn from Rohit, many in India would like to learn from Head - a batter whose fearless approach to batting has driven fear into India in major competitions.

The early signs were all seen at the Pertaringa Oval. Head trained here from the age of 10 till 18, when he broke into the state ranks; even now many remember the sound of the ball hitting his bat.

This story is from the December 11, 2024 edition of Hindustan Times West UP.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the December 11, 2024 edition of Hindustan Times West UP.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM HINDUSTAN TIMES WEST UPView All
Hindustan Times West UP

Crowd pleaser Pant needs to rediscover himself again

The enforcer at No.5 is yet to get going and the visitors will hope he has the same impact Head has had with the Aussies

time-read
3 mins  |
December 23, 2024
Hindustan Times West UP

Ashwin and Jadeja: A pair broken up after 12 seasons

It seemed odd to hear Ravindra Jadeja talk about R Ashwin in the past tense.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 23, 2024
Hindustan Times West UP

From chaos to contenders: Maresca causing the turnaround for Chelsea

\"No matter how many games we are going to win, I think we are not ready to compete for the title.\" That was Enzo Maresca after Chelsea beat Brentford 2-1 and moved to second in the Premier League, two points behind Liverpool who have a game in hand.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 23, 2024
Hindustan Times West UP

Atletico snatch late win at Barcelona to top La Liga

Atletico Madrid came from behind to snatch a last-gasp 2-1 victory over Barcelona and claim leadership of La Liga on Saturday.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 23, 2024
Hindustan Times West UP

IPO boom: Record ₹1.6 lakh crore raised in 2024

Fundraising via IPOs in India hit another landmark as economic growth, favourable market conditions and improvements in the regulatory framework helped companies raise a record ₹1.6 lakh crore in 2024, while the pipeline for the next year holds out bigger promise.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 23, 2024
Hindustan Times West UP

Good opportunity in chip fabrication in India, says Canon CEO

Japanese imaging and optical products major Canon believes that it has a good opportunity in India for its semiconductor lithography equipment required for chip fabrication, and it is in negotiations with companies setting up facilities here, said its India President and CEO Toshiaki Nomura.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 23, 2024
Hindustan Times West UP

Akasa Air expects to add a few more planes this fiscal

Akasa Air is in continuous discussions with Boeing on aircraft deliveries and expects to add a few more planes to its fleet in the current fiscal ending March 2025, the airline's chief Vinay Dube has said.

time-read
1 min  |
December 23, 2024
Hindustan Times West UP

LEATHER EXPORTS LIKELY TO GROW OVER 12% IN FY25: CLE

The country's leather and footwear exports are expected to grow by over 12% to $5.3 billion in the current financial year on account of healthy demand in key global markets, CLE chairman Rajendra Kumar Jalan has said.

time-read
1 min  |
December 23, 2024
Hindustan Times West UP

CII seeks reforms in priority sector lending framework

PRIORITY SECTOR LENDING IS AIMED AT ENSURING THAT KEY SECTORS CRUCIAL TO DEVELOPMENT GET ADEQUATE FINANCIAL SUPPORT

time-read
1 min  |
December 23, 2024
Hindustan Times West UP

FPIs PULL OUT EQUITIES WORTH ₹976 CR LAST WEEK

After two weeks of buying, FPIs turned net sellers in Indian equities in the week ending December 20, with a net withdrawal of ₹976 crore amid a strengthening US dollar and steady rise in US 10-year bond yields, impacting investor sentiment.

time-read
1 min  |
December 23, 2024