Travis Head has said there was ‘no chance’ he was going to put his pads back on for a proposed exhibition match at the MCG on Sunday, after the Boxing Day Test ended in two days.
Fans with tickets to days three and four of the match were left shortchanged after 36 wickets fell in just 141 overs, with England going on to claim a four-wicket victory.
Prior to this Test series, it had been 104 years since a Test match had finished inside two days in Australia. But now, after the Perth Test also finished in record time, we’ve witnessed two two-day Tests in the space of a month, with Cricket Australia facing over $10million in losses as a result of lost revenue due to tickets and broadcasting.
But after the Test had ended prematurely in Melbourne on Saturday, Cricket Australia had discussed a plan to stage an exhibition match.
Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) chief Stuart Fox was also in favour of hosting the event.
‘There were alternatives discussed and that’s really a matter for Cricket Australia because they provide the content,’ Fox said on Sunday as players from the Australian team gathered in Yarra Park outside the MCG to greet fans.
Travis Head (pictured) claimed on Sunday that there was ‘no chance’ that he was turning out for an exhibition match at the MCG in the wake of England’s two-day victory
Fans with tickets to days three and four of the match were left shortchanged after 36 wickets fell in 141 overs across, with England going on to claim a four-wicket victory
However, hopes that players could have turned out for a knock at the MCG did not materialise.
‘There was talk of players coming out and having a hit today but that didn’t get up, and I know Cricket Australia has responded with having a live site here for fans to come down,’ Fox said.
Instead, the Aussie team made up to the fans by signing autographs, with all of Pat Cummins, Steve Smith and Michael Neser standing on stage to field questions from the crowd.
Travis Head stopped to meet members of the media and was asked how he felt about getting back out in the middle of the MCG for a one-day match against England after suffering defeat.
‘I’m not playing these guys (England) in a one-dayer — no chance,’ the South Australian said, laughing.
‘Unfortunately it’s just how it falls (a two-day Test match), and we’ve got a lot more time to talk about teams and selection and Sydney and Noosa and all sorts (laughs).’
‘I don’t know, everyone will talk about something for the next — I don’t know, what day is it today.’
Head, who will celebrate his birthday on Monday, added: ‘It’s nice to be off on a birthday for once.’
To make it up to fans, the Australian cricket team arrived at the fanzone at Yarra Park on Sunday for a meet and greet
The team signed autographs, spoke with fans and delivered their verdicts on the series so far
Head mingled with the fans at Yarra Park and said it was nice to give back to the supporters.
‘It’s the least we can do,’ the Aussie hero said.
While all eyes have been on the spicy MCG pitch, both England and Australia’s batters underwhelmed.
It was the first Test in Australia where a batter has not posted a half-century or century since 1932, with Head making the highest individual score of the match – 46.
Questions are mounting over rookie batter Jake Weatherald’s place in the side. After posting his first Test half-century in Brisbane three weeks ago, Weatherald has since struggled to find runs, averaging 8.5 runs across the Adelaide and Melbourne Tests.
Head has thrown his support behind Weatherald, claiming that he has batted well on challenging surfaces.
‘He showed a lot of glimpses over his first four Tests, and it’s not always going to go your way,’ Head said of his former South Australia team-mate.
Cameron Green, Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja are also facing scrutiny in the wake of the Melbourne Test.
![Head joked that he wasn't 'playing these guys [England] in a one-dayer' before going on to say turning out to sign autographs was 'the least we could do'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/12/28/15/105061463-15417393-image-a-117_1766936684524.jpg)
Head joked that he wasn’t ‘playing these guys [England] in a one-dayer’ before going on to say turning out to sign autographs was ‘the least we could do’
‘There’s a lot of guys who have looked like they’ve been under the pump with the bat who are some of our best of our generation, so it can be a tough way to start your international career.
‘But l think he’s [Weatherald] is a good enough player to play international cricket.’
Weatherald has been trapped lbw three times and caught behind twice, and overall dismissed seven times in four different ways by England’s bowlers throughout the series.
‘Definitely you can say it’s a positive that that is the case, that he hasn’t got a trend,’ Head said.
‘The runs haven’t been there in the last couple of Tests, but (he) played a crucial innings for us in Brisbane.
‘So over a series you’re looking for moments in time that will win you a series.’
Weatherald and Labuschagne appear likely to hold their spots for the Sydney Test, but Green’s spot is under serious threat.
Head also rose to the defence of his Aussie team-mate Jake Weatherald (centre) after he struggled in Melbourne and Adelaide
The West Australian has averaged just 18.66 with the bat this series and was heavily criticised over his two dismissals in Melbourne.
Meanwhile, Khawaja faces a call on his playing future ahead of what Australian great Brett Lee believes could be a ‘special’ farewell for the veteran in Sydney.
Khawaja has endured a rollercoaster Ashes series, averaging 30.6 from five innings with one half-century.
The former Test opener was moved to No.4 in Perth and missed the Brisbane Test with a back injury.
He returned with 82 and 40 in Adelaide but was out for 29 and a second-ball duck in the Boxing Day Test.
At 39, Khawaja is nearing the end of his Test career, but is yet to make an announcement on his immediate playing future.
Former fast bowler Lee said the Sydney Test could be a fitting stage for his fellow NSW product to retire.
‘That’ll be up to him, but it’d be a special way for him to go out, wouldn’t it?’ Lee said on Sunday.
At 39, Usman Khawaja (pictured) is nearing the end of his Test career, but is yet to make an announcement on his immediate playing future.
‘Home ground, a chance to win (the series) 4-1, but we’ll wait and see in a couple of days.’
Lee conceded Khawaja’s age counts against him playing on beyond this series but paid tribute to the left-hander.
Khawaja has made more than 8000 international runs, including 6206 from 87 Tests at an average of 43.39.
‘Just a couple of weeks ago he was, and has been, one of Australia’s greatest batsmen,’ Lee said.
‘He’s in the team because of what he’s achieved, and he wasn’t left out (in Brisbane) due to form. He was left out because of his injury – his back.
‘I don’t know what’s going on in his life, in terms of his professional cricket life, but all I can say is that he’s been instrumental for Australia.
‘He’s been such a great role model for young kids coming through.’
