AUSTRALIA can’t go wrong investing in next generation leader Travis Head says former national selector Jamie Cox.

Australian coach Justin Langer must manage keeper Tim Paine’s workload while replacing banned Steve Smith and David Warner for next month’s one-day series against England.

Head is the most experienced leader of a young cohort including injury plagued Mitch Marsh and Pat Cummins. Victorian opener Aaron Finch, 31, has led Australia in two 50-over and nine T20 games and favourite as interim captain if Paine doesn’t tour England.

“You have to give guys a chance to lead. Travis got an opportunity, albeit possibly before he was ready,” said Cox, with Australia’s one-day tour squad announced next week.

“He has captained sides into some big finals. It would be a nice reward for some foresight a few years back.”

Marsh is sidelined by an ankle injury until next summer while Paine, 33, was relieved by gun understudy Alex Carey in 50-over and Twenty20 last summer.

Cox, as South Australian high performance manager, blooded batsman Head in 2011 before appointed its youngest skipper aged 21 in 2015.

“Hopefully that opportunity he got from his home state pays dividends and selectors say ‘if his state was prepared to give him an opportunity four years ago, he has led them to finals and Strikers T20 title, give him a crack’,” said Cox.

Cox noted Head’s 58 average across five one-day games opening for Australia compared to 36 over 34 games.

“Him and Finch seem like a pretty dangerous combo to me,” Cox told The Advertiser.