Travis Head reveals doubts over Test opener role after Ashes success

Australian batter Travis Head claimed the Allan Border Medal for a second consecutive year at a Cricket Australia awards function on Friday, August 7, 2026, following a dominant season across all three formats. The Australian batter accumulated 1,437 runs in 30 matches throughout the year, which helped him edge out Alex Carey by a single vote, gaining 153 votes to Carey’s 152 to clinch the prestigious award once again.

Head’s standout performances include a match-winning 123 off 83 balls in the Ashes series opener in Perth and an impressive knock of 170 in the Adelaide Test. He finished the Ashes campaign with 629 runs, establishing himself as a key figure in Australia’s batting lineup.

“I don’t know the exact stats, but I’ve played around 170 or 180 first-class games, and I might have opened in ten of them, that probably suggests I’m not an opening batter, a true opening batter, in terms of what Australian cricket is known for. Usually those guys have opened all the way through junior cricket, state cricket and then Test cricket,” Travis Head told Cricinfo.

Head’s unconventional path to opening

Head’s elevation to the opener role came in November 2025 when Usman Khawaja was unavailable through injury during the Ashes series. Although Head had previously opened in matches against India and Sri Lanka, as well as regularly in white-ball cricket, the Ashes represented his first extended period as Australia’s full-time Test opener.

“I think my game is conducive to playing well there. I feel like I can do the role. But it’s not that traditional opening batter, if that makes sense,” he continued.

“I know I’ve still got to keep working hard against the new ball. I know I’m going to make mistakes, and that’s okay. I’m very comfortable with where my game’s at,” he added.

Australia gears up for Test-heavy schedule

Australia faces a demanding schedule ahead, with 20 Tests scheduled against Bangladesh, South Africa, India and England, respectively, alongside a potential World Test Championship final.

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