Aussies hit back at ex-players in build-up to first South Africa Test

Travis Head has accused former Australian players of levelling unfair criticism at the current Test squad, saying the game has changed significantly since they played.

Just a day after Matthew Hayden slammed selectors and accused them of promoting "the greatest pile of mediocrity" for calling up Nic Maddinson, Head took his own stand in South Africa.

Australia's vice-captain refused to name particular ex-players or comments, but took issue with commentary about the team's batting at a time when averages have dropped worldwide.

Head noted the current side had been through a "sticky situation" with the group of past players, in a clear nod to Justin Langer's dramatic exit as coach in 2022.

"I think [we're] unfairly judged a fair bit from a group of past players … that put the bullet through a lot of players," he said ahead of the first Test against South Africa in Durban.

"But that's what they're paid to do. Some of them need a job, so they go after us, and that's totally fine.

"This group is strong enough to deal with those sort of things. That's how it is.

"It's unfortunate, sometimes, to have some of that feedback from a generation of players that we have huge respect for, but that's the caper."

The suggestion of a generational split between Australia's two best eras of the past 50 years has long bubbled away.

This was particularly the case following Langer's exit after his side's 2021/22 Ashes win, when he rejected a contract offer of only six months.

"They're [ex-players] a very proud bunch of guys," Head said.

"We 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).

"But in saying that …we play for the same cause. We have huge respect for it.

"It's always a balancing act with … what they say and how you take it."

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.

While critics have pointed to the drop in averages coinciding with the rise of T20 cricket, Head pointed to conditions as a major factor.

"It's pretty obvious to see what the wickets were like back then to now," Head said.

"We have huge respect for what's come before us, but it's a completely different game.

"Sometimes it's commented around unfairly on some of the wickets that teams have played on, whether that be Sheffield Shield or Test cricket.

"We've seen games go quicker than ever. We've got a lot of stats that suggest that the ball's doing a lot more."