Australian batter Travis Head has voiced his preference for seam-friendly conditions ahead of the Ashes 2025 opener against England in Perth on November 21. He believes such wickets give him greater freedom to score runs, unlike flat decks that demand long, patient innings.
In recent years, Australian grounds have shifted towards seam-friendly pitches, making them a key Ashes talking point. Head excelled in similar conditions during the 2021-22 Ashes, scoring centuries on tough Brisbane and Hobart tracks.
“I probably enjoy batting on those sort of wickets. The flatter wickets, with the grind, that more so challenge technique, I think, over longer periods of time [trying] to eke out runs has never probably come as natural to me with being a stroke player and wanting to get on with it,” Head told ESPNcricinfo.
Head explained that fast and lively pitches align well with his attacking style.
“It’s a run-based game. You see some of the great players, like Steve Smith, Joe Root, you blink and they’re on 30 or 40. And that’s something that I’ve always appreciated, and definitely [on] these wickets, you know that you potentially have got one with your name on it. You can still play well. You can still get runs. Sometimes you’ve got that go about it in different ways. But ultimately, it’s a game where you go try and score as many as you can,” he said.
“And the slower, flat wickets probably don’t tend to that. But fast-paced pitches that nip, you can maybe get away with a few things. And then obviously, the way I want to play is if they present opportunities to score, you score. So when they’re greener, they pitch up a little bit more and a bit fuller, and the style that I play, if they miss a little bit, I’m able to hopefully score and get busy,” he added.
England’s Batters Could Struggle if Conditions Stay Spicy
Since the 2021-22 Ashes, Australia’s top seven have averaged 30.22 at home, with 24 centuries in 20 Tests. Head has excelled, averaging 54.64 with a strike rate of 88.90, well above his teammates.
Even Steve Smith has seen a drop in returns at home, averaging 45.26 over the last four summers — a dip from 63.20 in his earlier career. Smith believes if these spicy conditions continue, they could expose England’s lineup.
“England play pretty well on the flatter wickets, the way they play. So, if there’s a bit in it like there has been the last three or four years, with our bowling attack, it certainly makes things a lot more difficult for their batters,” Smith said.
As the countdown to the Ashes 2025 opener begins, pitch conditions are set to play a decisive role. Seam-friendly surfaces could amplify Australia’s strengths, especially with Head’s attacking intent and a world-class pace battery ready to strike.
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