Finch: Head Still Best at No. 5 for Pink-Ball Test Despite Opening Heroics

Former Australia captain Aaron Finch believes Travis Head should return to his customary No. 5 position for the upcoming day-night Ashes Test at the Gabba, despite the left-hander’s explosive century as a makeshift opener in Perth.

Head was promoted when Usman Khawaja suffered back spasms and was unable to take his usual spot at the top of the order. His dominant hundred reignited debate over whether he should move up permanently, especially with Khawaja’s position already under scrutiny due to his lean recent form. However, Finch said the pink-ball conditions in Brisbane make keeping Head in the middle order the smarter option.

“If this wasn’t a pink-ball Test, I’d be tempted to throw him up there,” Finch told ESPN’s Around The Wicket. “But with the new ball under lights and the impact a softer pink ball can have later, I like him at five — he can be that explosive middle-order player when the wicket flattens out.”

Khawaja, who batted at No. 4 in the first innings in Perth and fell to a rising ball from Brydon Carse, has scored just one Test century in his past 44 innings. Even so, former Australian captain Michael Clarke expects him to retain his spot if fit — particularly with the Gabba being his home ground, where he is the leading run-scorer in day-night first-class matches.

“I think he plays,” Clarke said. “If he’s fit, they give him another chance. He hasn’t had this back issue often, so I think he’ll be fine.”

Both Clarke and Finch were adamant that Nathan Lyon must return to the XI in Brisbane, despite bowling only two overs in Perth and being omitted from Australia’s last pink-ball Test in Jamaica.

“He’s in for sure,” Clarke said. “He’s in my XI every Test unless it’s an absolute green seamer.”

Finch agreed: “The impact Lyon has is huge. At the Gabba, it shouldn’t even be a discussion — he’s in the XI.”

Australia also face a crucial call on Pat Cummins’ availability. The captain bowled with the pink ball in Sydney earlier this week and said during the Perth Test that he has “half a chance” of being fit for Brisbane.

Finch expects selectors to remain cautious. “If he’s 100% fit, he plays. If he’s 95%, he doesn’t. It’s a long series — there’s no need to rush him,” he said.