The best way to silence a batter is to get them out, and that's a classic cricket saying. Unfortunately, India hasn't managed to do that quickly enough this series when it comes to Travis Head.

Since the Perth Test, the 30-year-old left-hander has racked up 409 runs in just five innings, boasting an impressive average of 81.80, which is almost Bradman-like. That's already a big deal, but when you consider he's scoring at a rate of 94.23 runs per 100 balls, it paints a picture of a dangerous batter who can turn the game around in no time.

His lowest score so far is just 11, which came in the first innings of the series. It took a stunning delivery from debutant Harshit Rana, who angled it in and then moved away to hit the off-stump, to send him back. Since then, India hasn't been able to deliver any standout balls. They haven't even managed to apply consistent pressure to keep him from settling in, which is pretty disappointing.

A second-innings score of 89 at Optus Stadium went largely unnoticed, even though it came off just 101 balls, mainly because it was in a losing effort. If India had paid closer attention, they might have seen the warning signs – powerful shots played square on the off-side, but also a noticeable shift towards playing off the back foot to cover and improved shots on the on-side. Head made them pay for their oversight with a stunning 140 off 141 in the pink-ball Test in Adelaide, and he carried that momentum to the Gabba, where he blasted 152 off only 160 balls.

This all adds up to Head accounting for 35.9% of all runs scored by Australia’s batters, while the rest, including Steve Smith, have been lagging behind. For India to make a mark in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, they need to dismiss Head quickly.

So, how can India pull that off? First off, getting the No. 5 batsman to the crease as soon as possible would be a good start. It’s well-known that the Kookaburra ball is most dangerous when it’s under 200 balls old. Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Akash Deep need to strike early to bring Head to the crease during that window, with a fresh Bumrah eager to make an impact.

If that doesn’t happen, targeting a fuller length outside off-stump to draw Head forward, when he’s more comfortable sitting back and picking off deliveries, could be a solid strategy. Like many batsmen, Head struggles when the ball is aimed at his body around chest height. Another tactic for the Indians to consider. But above all, they must not let Travis get into their heads. He’s not invincible; he’s human and can make mistakes. The key will be to push him into those mistakes, which should come naturally given his aggressive style.

What about Scott Boland?

Scott Boland's rise to icon status is a pretty recent thing, but he was already a fan favorite long before he made his Test debut at 32 against England on Boxing Day in 2021. As just the fourth Indigenous player to don the Australian colors, he wasted no time making an impact, taking six wickets for just seven runs in the second innings, which really cemented his reputation as a champion among the fans. With his gentle demeanor, quiet nature, and shy smile, Boland is like a one-man demolition squad, even though he’s only played 11 Tests in the past three years due to the fierce competition from legends like Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood.

When Hazlewood had to sit out the Adelaide Test due to a side strain, it opened the door for Boland to step back into the Test arena after 17 months. He was the obvious pick once Hazlewood was sidelined for the last two matches with a calf issue. Australian coach Andrew McDonald even joked that he wouldn’t be at the ground on Boxing Day if Boland wasn’t in the lineup, highlighting the local support he’ll get at the MCG, where he’s taken ten wickets in just two Tests with an impressive average of 13.80.

Boland’s bowling isn’t a mystery; he’s incredibly accurate, much like Hazlewood, but he can also deliver those unplayable deliveries from time to time. His biggest strength is his consistent line outside off stump, which has caused plenty of heartache for Indian batsmen over the past month. To counter him, India needs to channel the kind of discipline and self-control that KL Rahul embodies, something that has been a challenge for his teammates.

Read Also: Rohit Sharma to Open Batting, KL Rahul at No. 3: Major Changes for India's Boxing Day Test

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