Can tell my grandkids that I faced Bumrah: Head in awe of star pacer

Australia's top-order batter Travis Head heaps praise on pace maestro ahead of second Test

- TRIDIB BAPARNASH

They have been fiercest of rivals on the field, but Travis Head, Australia's chief lynchpin with the willow during the Border-Gavaskar series opener in Perth, relishes the challenge of facing India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who he feels will go down as 'one of the greatest fast bowlers to play the game'.

Back in his city in the lead-up to the second Test against India starting December 6, Head is looking to do an encore of his previous two Test appearances at the Adelaide Oval, where he ended up being the Player-of-the-match on both occasions. But Head is aware of the challenge that lies ahead of him when he features in his third Test at the venue.

Head was one of the few Australia batters to keep his reputation intact in the heavy Perth loss, scoring a fighting 89 in the second innings, despite a searing pace performance led by Bumrah.