AUS vs SL T20I series: Travis Head to miss out on the first three matches

AUS vs SL T20I series: Australian batter Travis Head is set to miss out on the initial games of the T20I series against Sri Lanka to play in the Sheffield Shield for South Australia ahead of the team’s tour to Pakistan.

Head, who would be missing out on the first three games of the series, has paved way for Daniel Sams, a New South Wales and Sydney Thunder allrounder, who has been called up to Australia’s side for the five-match series, which starts on Friday, February 11, at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Head, who last played a T20I in 2018, was one among the players recalled for the match against Sri Lanka, but it was decided that following his player-of-the-series heroics in the Ashes, he would benefit from a first-class game before playing Pakistan next month. The man of the series of Australia’s 4-0 Ashes 2021-22 victory, will return to the T20 squad in Melbourne for the fourth and the fifth T20I.

Sam’s, who was a travelling reserve for the T20I World Cup squad last year, earned his call-up in the squad after an impressive BBL 2021-22 season with Sydney Thunder, where he was the team’s leading wicket-taker with 19 at 24.57 and smashed an incredible 98 off 44 balls against Melbourne Renegades. He also played four T20Is.

His fantastic performance also helped him get nominated by all eight of the league’s coaches and get named in the official team of the tournament.

Sams had informed in January that the chair of selectors George Bailey had been in talks with him regarding his return to the national squad.

Meanwhile, Head will now be able to play Victoria, who will have Marcus Harris and Scott Boland in their lineup, with South Australian teammate Alex Carey. After being omitted for the last Ashes Test to make room for Usman Khawaja, Harris is likely to secure a spot for the Pakistan tour.

AUS vs SL T20 schedule

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