As anticipation builds ahead of the Ashes opener on November 21 in Perth, Australian star batter Travis Head has expressed his desire for seam-friendly conditions. The left-hander, known for his aggressive stroke play, said he prefers lively pitches with movement over flat, slow decks, as they better complement his natural game and provide more scoring opportunities.

Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Head said he enjoys batting on challenging surfaces rather than flat ones that demand patience and technical endurance. “I probably enjoy batting on those sorts of wickets,” he said. “Flatter tracks that require grinding it out over long periods never felt natural to me as a stroke player. On greener pitches, you can still score if you’re proactive and capitalise on opportunities.”

Australia has leaned towards preparing seam-friendly pitches in recent years, marking a shift from the batting-heavy tracks of the previous decade. During the 2021-22 Ashes, Head thrived in such conditions, scoring memorable centuries on testing surfaces in Brisbane and Hobart. Since then, he has been one of Australia’s most consistent performers at home, averaging 54.64 with six centuries at a strike rate close to 89.

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“For me, when pitches have pace and movement, they tend to create scoring chances,” Head added. “If bowlers miss slightly fuller, I can cash in. Flat wickets just don’t suit the tempo I like to play with.” His statement comes as discussion intensifies around the nature of Australian pitches ahead of the home Test summer.

Backing his teammate, Australia’s veteran batter Steve Smith also weighed in, saying England’s attacking ‘Bazball’ style could struggle if the pitches retain their recent spice. “England play well on flatter wickets,” Smith said. “But if there’s movement like in the past few years, our bowling attack makes things very tough for their batters.” With conditions likely to favour seamers, the upcoming Ashes promises a fierce contest between Australia’s pace battery and England’s fearless batting lineup.

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