In a contest, perception can be a weapon. Perception leads to expectation. Expectation leads to assumption, to over-confidence, to predictability. For England asking Australia to bat first in their T20 World Cup match in Barbados, there might have been the perception of David Warner as an ageing player and slowing scorer.
There was the perception of his circumspect 56 from 51 balls against the modest might of Oman days earlier. There was the perception of struggles against England, and against high pace, for a side in which Mark Wood stood alongside Jofra Archer. For Travis Head there was the perception of struggles against spin. For both openers there was the perception of left-handers being more susceptible to off-breaks.
Had Head been foxing in the first over, he could not have played it better. Moeen Ali’s off-spin kept him to three runs, with one ball nearly bowling him. England had been tossing around an idea before the game, and with Head keeping strike from the last ball, Jos Buttler pulled that rein: he brought on Will Jacks to continue with off-spin instead of Archer with heat.
Where Moeen had pushed the ball through, Jacks gave more flight, and Head mowed his first offering over midwicket. As if sensing an opening, getting a whiff of whatever fuelled him through a wild IPL season, Head backed up that shot next ball. Then getting width, a slash for three. Warner, ever aware of a chance to punch the bruise, followed by kneeling outside off stump to play a pick-up shot for six more. The over cost 22.
