Former World Test Champions Australia will take on current holders South Africa in the first Test of the three-match series starting Friday (October 9) in Durban. Both sides have been impacted by injuries, with some key players likely to miss the opening match. Pat Cummins‘ team is leading the WTC table, followed by the Proteas.

Opening batter Travis Head spoke to the media ahead of the first game. The 33-year-old slammed the critics who have been calling out the team selection for the current tour. “I think it is unfairly judged by a few former players who have pretty much put the bullet through a lot of players, which is unfair,” he said.

He then added, “But that’s what they are paid to do, and some of them need a job so they go after us, which is fine.

The group is strong enough to deal with such criticism, and that’s how it is. It is unfortunate to have some of that feedback from a generation of players that we have huge respect for.”

His comments may have been in reference to former Australia opener Matthew Hayden. The 54-year-old had questioned the decision to recall Nic Maddinson back into the Australian side for the red-ball assignment.

Maddinson, who has played three Tests, averages just above 37 in first-class cricket.

“We are promoting the greatest pile of mediocrity that we have seen in generations of cricket. If we continue to lay that out, and expect a guy averaging 35 in first-class cricket to average higher in Test cricket, then the selectors are dreaming,” Hayden said.

“You (the selectors) are piling up absurd explanations and, in my opinion, disrespecting first-class cricket. You should be picking guys who are averaging more than 45, but you won’t because they don’t want to play,” he added.

Australian star backs Maddinson’s recall

Travis Head backed the selectors’ call to bring Maddinson back into the Test fold after nearly a year. According to Head, such selections are needed since the team can only benefit from having an experienced hand.

“We need mature guys who know what they are doing. I think that goes back to why we have been good over a period of time and why Australian cricket was good back in the previous eras.

You would bring in the likes of Michael Hussey, who was in his 30s, and players who were experienced enough to know what to do.”