Australian newfound opener Travis Head has blamed the compelling Ashes schedule for being the reason for missing the remainder of the BBL season with the Adelaide Strikers as a part of the ICC T20 World Cup selection.
One of the biggest rivalries is between Australia and England in the longest format of the game. Travis Head has spoken of the immense mental stress that the Ashes have put them through. He has informed that he will be taking some time off after the Ashes before making his way to India for the ICC T20 World Cup.
Head was part of all five matches in the Ashes, as he played a major role in Australia’s success in the first three games of the series. Head started batting at no. 5 in the first innings and was then promoted to open the innings for Australia.
Travis Head to miss post-Ashes BBL season due to excessive workload
Travis Head opened the innings for the first time in the second innings of the Perth Test, where he led the Australian batting innings with a commanding hundred. Travis Head has scored 437 runs in the 4 matches for Australia, with two centuries in Perth and Adelaide.
Before shifting gears from Test to T20 cricket, Travis Head opts for a break away from cricket, as Head might relinquish himself from participation in the Big Bash League. He admitted that he needs some time away in January before moving to the ICC T20 World Cup in India.
When Head was asked about his possible participation in the BBL season, the Australian opener answered, “Probably unlikely with the emotional drain of an Ashes series, and what’s coming up in terms of the World Cup,” Head said to the Daily Telegraph when asked if he would be making his way into the BBL with his team, the Adelaide Strikers.
Head shifts focus to the ICC T20 World Cup 2026
Currently, the Adelaide Strikers are in a very strong position in the Big Bash season and would have loved to have Travis Head’s experience to add to the top of the order. However, with the T20 World Cup around the corner, Head has his focus shifted to the ICC T20 World Cup.
Travis Head will be playing a very crucial role alongside Mitchell Marsh at the top of the batting order in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup for Australia in India.
“You go into every series wanting to have a good contribution. I felt like I’ve been close to that and played really well. And the emotional drain of actually being in an Ashes series and playing it is always tough,” Head said regarding his Ashes series so far.
Travis Head has family on his mind ahead of a packed schedule in India
Head raised concerns about the amount of cricket some players are asked to play. In a compact and exhausting schedule, added alongside the franchise tournaments, there is no space left for personal time with the family. Hence, Head has shown his wish to spend time with his family before going to India for the T20 World Cup, followed by the IPL stint with the Sunrisers Hyderabad.
“So I think it’s important to go into a World Cup fresh, but we’ll see where we get to, though. It’s a concern with how much we’ve already been playing and how much time we’ve got on the road,” Head said.
Even the 2027 World Cup cannot be ignored after such a compelling schedule in 2026. He said, “You look at that year (2027) with the young family as well … my mind’s more so with my family. How can I make that year work?”
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