{
  "id": 12672302,
  "title": "‘Some of them need a job, so they go after us’: Travis Head hits back at former Oz players",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/some-of-them-need-a-job-so-they-go-after-us-travis-head-hits-back-at",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-07T17:21:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/travis-head-hits-back-criticism-former-players-australia-10911385/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Travis Head, the Australian opener, has responded to criticism from former players regarding the recent selection choices made by the national selectors. Head's remarks followed Matthew Hayden's comments on a podcast, in which Hayden labeled the current squad as the \"greatest pile of mediocrity\" in recent Australian cricket history. The criticism was specifically aimed at the selection of Nic Maddinson, who has returned to the Test squad after nearly a decade following injuries to Josh Inglis and Cameron Green.\n\nIn a press conference on Wednesday, Head did not single out any specific critics but expressed his dissatisfaction with the harsh judgments from past players. He stated that such assessments were unfair and unfair to those who rely on their profession for income. Head acknowledged that critics need jobs, and thus, they target the current team. He added that the current team is strong enough to handle the scrutiny that comes with such criticism.\n\nHead defended the decision to recall Maddinson, citing his first-class average of 37.11, which he deemed as a testament to the player's maturity and experience. He argued that having experienced players like Maddinson in the team strengthens the squad's ability to perform. Hayden had previously criticized the selectors for disrespecting first-class cricket, suggesting that batters should average 45 or more to be considered for Test selection.\n\nFormer Australia captain Allan Border also joined the debate, suggesting that Head might face his toughest challenge against the South African attack and might be better suited to bat at number five. However, Head dismissed this suggestion, asserting that a traditional opening batter performing well in his first 20 innings would not face such criticism. He emphasized that the current team's success is built on the foundation of experienced players who bring maturity and reliability to the team.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Travis Head responds to former players' criticism of current Australian cricket team.",
    "Head defends selection of Nic Maddinson, citing his strong first-class average.",
    "Head dismisses suggestion of batting at No. 5, emphasizing team's strength."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}