Australian opening batter Travis Head could miss the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL) season for the Adelaide Strikers after the 2025-26 Ashes against England. The Australian star said the mental and emotional toll of playing an Ashes series makes it difficult to immediately commit to the T20 tournament.
Head is Australia’s best player in the Ashes, scoring 437 runs in four Tests at an average of 54.62 and a strike rate of 84.20. He smashed centuries in Perth and Adelaide, which played a key role in Australia winning the urn with a 3-1 lead. The final Test is scheduled to be played in Sydney from January 4.
With the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in February, there is optimism that most of Australia’s Test regulars could play in the Big Bash League after the Ashes to stay fit.
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Probably unlikely with the emotional drain – Travis Head on participating in BBL 2026
Travis Head has said he may not feature in the final part of the Big Bash League season, citing the heavy mental toll of the Ashes. The Australian slugger said it is important to stay mentally fresh and his availability for the BBL will depend on how his workload is managed.
“Probably unlikely with the emotional exhaustion of an Ashes series and what’s coming up in terms of the World Cup.” Head told News Corp about the prospect of playing in the BBL.
“You go into each series wanting to have a good contribution. I felt like I was close and I played really well. And the emotional exhaustion of being in an Ashes series and playing in it is always difficult. So I think it’s important to approach a World Cup with nine players, but we’ll see where we end up.“, he added.
Australia faces busy testing schedule after IPL 2026
After the World Cup, Travis Head will return to franchise cricket with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. After the IPL, Australia will face a busy Test cricket schedule.
Australia begin with a home series against Bangladesh in August, followed by a tour of South Africa in October – their first visit since 2018. They will then host New Zealand before traveling to India for a tough tour in January 2027.
Both teams will play the historic 150th Anniversary Test against England at the MCG in March 2027, followed by an away Ashes series in the United Kingdom later in the year. The ODI World Cup will take place towards the end of 2027, before Australia embark on another five-match home Test summer.
Travis Head’s BBL absence and IPL focus
Travis Head has not played for the Adelaide Strikers since the 2022-23 Big Bash League season. He often left the BBL to concentrate on international cricket and the Indian Premier League.
Head has become an important part of Sunrisers Hyderabad. Opening the batting with Abhishek Sharma, he played a key role in SRH reaching the 2024 final.
The ongoing BBL season, which began on December 14, has once again been affected by Australia’s busy international schedule. Many Test players missed the tournament as it clashes with the Ashes, as the BBL does not have a separate window like the IPL.
Also read: Ben Duckett asks fans for beer during Live Ashes Test at MCG, video breaks internet
