Australia opening batter Travis Head might miss the ongoing season of the Big Bash League (BBL) for Adelaide Strikers following the Ashes 2025-26 against England. The Australian star said that 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 performer 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 have played a key role in Australia securing the urn with a 3-1 lead. The final Test is set 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 following the Ashes to keep themselves match fit.
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Probably Unlikely With the Emotional Drain – Travis Head on BBL 2026 participation
Travis Head stated that he may not feature in the latter part of the Big Bash League season, citing the heavy mental toll of the Ashes. The Australian batter 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 drain 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 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. So I think it’s important to go into a World Cup fresh, but we’ll see where we get to though,” he added.
Australia Face Packed Test 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. Following the IPL, Australia will face a busy Test cricket schedule.
Australia will 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 heading to India for a challenging tour in January 2027.
The two teams will play the historic 150th anniversary Test against England at the MCG in March 2027, followed by an away Ashes series in the UK later that year. The ODI World Cup will take place towards the end of 2027, before Australia head into yet 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 has often skipped the BBL to focus 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 final in 2024.
The current BBL season, which started on December 14, has again been affected by Australia’s busy international schedule. Many Test players have missed the tournament because it clashes with the Ashes, as the BBL does not have a separate window like the IPL.
Also read: Ben Duckett demands beer from fans during Live Ashes Test at MCG, video breaks internet
