Travis Head Reveals Ball Tampering Saga In Australian Domestic Cricket

Travis Head reveals ball-tampering [Source: AFP]Australia and their repression of ball tampering is a saga that the whole world knows. Adding to that tale, Travis Head, the Australian cricketer and former captain of South Australia, revealed how he once stopped a disdainful event.Speaking of an incident 8 years ago, back when Head was 24 years old, Head elaborated on how he restricted a South Australian side from opting out of the unjust path.How did Travis Head stop the ball-tampering?As per Head, he took a firm stance when suggestions emerged about South Australia’s players being more aggressive in preparing the ball to generate reverse swing. With some players suspecting that opponents were still operating close to the limits of what was acceptable, Travis Head made it clear that he would not allow his own team to cross that line.ALSO READTravis Head Overcomes Past Demons, Jokes That He Is “Running Out Of Bats”“I made a pretty strong stand at that point, and I was captain at the time, that they weren’t going to be in the dressing room if that’s the case, if that’s what [they want to do]. I didn’t care what other teams did. I didn’t care if we were facing it,” Head told The Age.Notably, Travis Head's stand was shaped by the experiences of what he saw with Pat Cummins & Co. and the wider impact previous ball-tampering controversies had on Australian cricket. Having seen the consequences unfold first-hand, he was unwilling to let the desire for reverse swing become more important than maintaining the right standards.Head denies crossing the boundaryFor Head, results were never enough to justify crossing that boundary. He was prepared to accept poor results in the Sheffield Shield, even a difficult position in the standings, rather than allow his players to gain an advantage through unfair means. “I just knew what a couple of close friends had gone through, and knew what the [Australian] team had gone through, and the flow-on effect of that. I don’t care if we’re bottom of the table, as long as we play the game the right way. That was my opinion, and still is my opinion,” Head added.As captain, Head reportedly warned that anyone attempting to tamper with the ball would risk losing their place in the side. Rather than trying to match what other teams might have been doing, Head prioritised playing within the spirit of the game. ALSO READShreyas Iyer's Maiden T20I Ton, Mandhana Named Captain– October 6 Cricket Highlights