MELBOURNE, Australia — Australian batsman Travis Head’s availability for the fourth Test against India, set to begin on Thursday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, remains uncertain, prompting the inclusion of teenager Sam Konstas for his inaugural Test start with the national team.

At 30 years old, Head has delivered powerful performances, recording centuries in both Adelaide and Brisbane. Throughout the first three matches of the five-Test Border-Gavaskar series, he has amassed 409 runs, averaging an impressive 81.80. His strong batting display has been crucial, especially as other Australian players have struggled significantly against India’s pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah.

Currently, the series stands at 1-1, following a rain-affected draw in the third Test held in Brisbane.

Coach Andrew McDonald expressed optimism about Head’s prospects of playing, noting that the batsman is dealing with a minor calf strain. Head had to skip training the previous day due to tightness in his quadriceps muscle stemming from the Brisbane match, but he managed to engage in a brief batting session at the nets on Tuesday, taking throwdowns for approximately 20 minutes.

On the other hand, McDonald confirmed that 19-year-old Constas will be making his Test debut at the MCG. He has been brought into the squad to replace opener Nathan McSweeney and is poised to become one of Australia’s youngest Test cricketers.

In his last appearance at the MCG, Konstas achieved scores of three and 73 not out while playing for Australia A against India A last month.