Calcutta: Australia A captain Travis Head understands the two-week tour of India could be his best chance to snare a Baggy Green cap.

As leader of the squad that will contest the 50-overs tri-series against India A and South Africa A, and a member of the group of aspirants that includes Peter Handscomb, Usman Khawaja and Kurtis Patterson, Head knows destiny in his own hands.

“In the past, there have probably been small opportunities, probably not as many as there are now. But in little gaps where if I did string a couple of scores together, there would be an opportunity,” Head said in Brisbane on Friday at the Australia A squad’s pre-departure news conference. “But I wasn’t able to do that. In the past, I’ve probably thought about it a little bit and tried too hard, and probably overdone it.

“There are opportunities out there, but they’re not something that I’m going to try and think about too much. I’ve probably done that when I was a little bit younger and didn’t quite crack it, and this is a good and an ideal opportunity. 

“I want to be playing for Australia in all three formats of the game, so I’ll be working hard to get as many runs as possible but not try to over-complicate it or think too much about it.

“I will try and be as relaxed as possible, and try and win games of cricket in India. That’s the main goal for me.

“I’m ready to go, so hopefully, I can have a nice month over there and put some scores together.”

For now, Head is simply soaking up the advice and the actions of other captains and mentors he has met at the state and international levels, and in offshore competitions he has been involved in.

“Not really conversations, but just watching and being around the group in the recent UK one-day series,” Head revealed when asked if he has spoken with newly appointed Test captain Tim Paine and coach Justin Langer.

“It was nice to sit back and watch that, and learn from that. I’ve obviously always watched different leaders and different guys, and how they go about things.

“I keep learning. I’m still young. I need to keep developing that learning skill, and keep asking a lot of questions to the senior guys.”