Australia\u2019s vice-captain refused to make reference to particular critics or comments, but took issue with commentary around the team\u2019s batting at a time when averages have dropped worldwide.<\/p>\n
Head also noted the current side had been through a \u201csticky situation\u201d with the group of past players, in a clear nod to Justin Langer\u2019s dramatic exit as coach in 2022.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s unfairly judged a fair bit from a group of past players, pretty much, that put the bullet through a lot of players,\u201d Head said ahead of Friday\u2019s first Test against South Africa<\/a> in Durban.<\/p>\n \u201cBut that\u2019s what they\u2019re paid to do. Some of them need a job, so they go after us and that\u2019s totally fine. This group is strong enough to deal with those sort of things. That\u2019s how it is.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s unfortunate sometimes to have some of that feedback from a generation of players that we have huge respect for, but that\u2019s the caper.\u201d<\/p>\n Travis Head trains in the nets before Australia meet South Africa in the first Test in Durban. Photograph: Gerhard Duraan\/Gallo Images\/Getty Images<\/p>\n The suggestion of a generational split between Australia\u2019s two best eras of the past 50 years has long bubbled away, particularly since Langer\u2019s exit after his side\u2019s 2021-22 Ashes win, when he rejected a contract offer of only six months.<\/p>\n Australia have remained the No 1 team in the world for the vast majority of that period, winning a World Test Championship<\/a> and keeping hold of the Ashes.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re a very proud bunch of guys,\u201d Head said. \u201cWe went through a bit of a sticky situation a few years ago where they stood up and were pretty proud about one of their own [Langer].<\/p>\n \u201cBut in saying that, we\u2019re all one of each. We\u2019re all each other. We play for the same cause. We have huge respect for it.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s always a balancing act with the, I guess, what they say and how you take it.\u201d<\/p>\n Test batting averages have dropped by close to 20 per cent from the end of the 2010s, while the Sheffield Shield has witnessed a similar downturn since the mid-2000s.<\/p>\n
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