Australian opening batsman Travis Head may miss the current season of the Big Bash League (BBL) for Adelaide Strikers after the Ashes 2025-26 against England. The Australian star said the mental and emotional impact of playing an Ashes series makes it difficult to commit to the T20 tournament immediately.
Head is Australia’s best player in the Ashes, having scored 437 runs in four Test matches at an average of 54.62 and a strike rate of 84.20. He scored centuries in Perth and Adelaide, which played a vital role in giving Australia a 3–1 lead. The final Test is to be played in Sydney from January 4.
With the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in February, there is hope that most of Australia’s Test regulars may play in the Big Bash League after the Ashes to keep themselves fit.
Probably unlikely due to emotional drain – Travis Head on participation in BBL 2026
Travis Head has cited the huge mental impact of the Ashes as the reason he may not feature in the latter part of the Big Bash League season. The Australian batsman said it is important to stay mentally fresh and his availability for the BBL will depend on how his workload is managed.
,Given the emotional devastation of the Ashes series and what’s unfolding in terms of the World Cup, that’s probably unlikelyHead told News Corp about the possibility of playing in the BBL.
,You go into each series wanting to contribute well. I felt like I got close to him and played really well. And actually being involved in an Ashes series and playing in it is always emotionally difficult. So I think it’s important to go into the World Cup fresh, but we’ll see where we end up“he adds.
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. After 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 host New Zealand before heading to India for a challenging tour in January 2027.
Both teams will play a historic 150th anniversary Test against England at the MCG in March 2027, followed by an Ashes series in the UK later the same year. The ODI World Cup will take place in late 2027, before Australia enters 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 Sunrisers has become an important part of Hyderabad. Opening the batting with Abhishek Sharma, he played a key role in SRH reaching the final in 2024.
The current BBL season, which begins on December 14, has once again been affected by Australia’s busy international schedule. Many Test players have missed the tournament as it clashes with the Ashes, as the BBL does not have a separate window like the IPL.
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