Australia’s Head hits back at critics 'putting a bullet' through the team

DURBAN, Oct 7 : Australia opener Travis Head has taken to task former test players turned critics whom he accused on Wednesday of “putting a bullet” through the current team, who start the first test against South Africa in Durban on Friday.

Head did not single out any pundit directly, but his strong remarks at a press conference came the day after Matthew Hayden, one-time holder of the record for the most runs in a test innings, accused selectors of “promoting the greatest pile of mediocrity that we've seen in a generation of cricket”. 

The reference, made in a podcast, was about the recall of Nic Maddinson, who has been out of test cricket for nearly 10 years, but who joined the squad in South Africa after Josh Inglis fractured his finger and Cameron Green suffered a stomach injury.

“I think it’s unfairly judged a fair bit from a group of past players, pretty much that put the bullet through a lot of players, which I think is unfair,” Head said. 

“But that’s what they’re paid to do. Some of them need a job, so they go after us, and that’s totally fine.

“This group is strong enough to deal with those sorts of things. That’s how it is. It’s unfortunate sometimes to have some of that feedback from a generation of players that we have huge respect for, but that’s the caper.”

SELECTORS ACCUSED OF DISRESPECTING CRICKET

Hayden accused the selectors of "disrespecting first-class cricket”, asserting that batsmen should have an average of 45 runs or more before being considered for test selection.

But Head praised Maddinson’s abilities and the benefits of choosing experienced players for test cricket despite the 34-year-old replacement having a first-class average of 37.11.

“We need mature guys that know what they need to be doing,” Head