Travis Head is one of the only Australian Test stars who won’t feature in the remainder of the BBL season, after recently making some telling comments that he worries about how much time he’ll spend away from his family over the next 18 months. Cricket Australia announced last week that every player from Australia’s triumphant Ashes squad – except Head, Scott Boland and Cameron Green – will start filtering back into their BBL teams.
Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne have already turned out for the Brisbane Heat, while Steve Smith suited up for the Sydney Sixers on Sunday before their clash with the Hobart Hurricanes was ruined by rain. Mitchell Starc will soon play for the Sixers in his first BBL appearance in 11 years, but Head will miss the tournament completely for the third season running.
Travis Head and Test teammates after Australia’s Ashes triumph over England. Image: Getty
Head was narrowly edged by Starc as player of the Ashes series, after blasting three centuries to help Australia win 4-1. There had been hope he’d suit up for the Adelaide Strikers for the first time since 2022, especially with the T20 World Cup coming up in February.
But with a jam-packed and gruelling schedule to come over the next two years, Head has stepped away for the time being for a well-deserved break. He won’t play any part in the BBL, but will be back in action when Australia heads to Pakistan for white-ball games to prepare for the World Cup in Sri Lanka and India.
“With the emotional drain of an Ashes series, and what’s coming up in terms of the World Cup,” Head told News Corp last month about the likelihood he’d skip the BBL. “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.”
Travis Head admits he doesn’t want to be away from his young family anymore than he has to. Image: Jessica Head
Travis Head’s ‘concern’ about being away from family
Australia’s next Test series isn’t until August against Bangladesh at home. But things will get hectic after that with a tour of South Africa in October, a home summer against New Zealand and then a tour to India in January 2027.
The 150th anniversary Test against England is in March 2027 at the MCG, before an away Ashes series in the UK in the middle of the year. The ODI World Cup will be held in late 2027, before another five-Test summer at home.
Head admitted he holds concerns about being on the road so much and away from his wife and two kids, including during the IPL which will follow the World Cup. “It’s a concern with how much we’ve already been playing and how much time we’ve got on the road,” he admitted. “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?”