Travis Head has revealed that the Australia national cricket team is planning to bring back some old Ashes traditions after the tension and controversy of the last series in England.
Relations between Australia and England had soured during the previous Ashes series, particularly after Alex Carey’s controversial run out of Jonny Bairstow.
Travis Head calls for return of iconic Ashes beer tradition after heated series
Australian opening batsman Travis Head has publicly called for the restoration of one of cricket’s most beloved rituals: drinks after an Ashes series. Travis Head said that this tradition is important for the “spirit of cricket”.
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With Australia having already retained the Ashes and leading the five-match Test series against England 3-1, Head has turned his focus to improving relationships off the field. The explosive batsman has expressed his wish that both the teams will enjoy post-series drinks together after the New Year Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in Sydney.
“There’s definitely mutual respect. I get along really well with some of them. There’s some great relationships with both teams. I’m looking forward to having a beer with Ducky (Ben Duckett). So, yeah, it’ll be a cool moment. It’s obviously nice to go out there knowing we’ve won the series,” Travis Head was quoted as saying by The Australian newspaper.
The incident that threatened the tradition: Bairstow’s run-out
The friendly tradition stopped during the 2023 Ashes in England, largely due to the controversial stumping of Jonny Bairstow by Alex Carey at Lord’s. Bairstow, believing the ball was dead, moved out of his crease in an attempt to avoid the ball from Cameron Green, but was dismissed by the Australian wicketkeeper in the home of cricket.
This dismissal sparked a heated debate about the “spirit of cricket” and sportsmanship. The result was intense. The Australian players were verbally abused by members in the Lord’s Long Room and England head coach Brendon McCullum said he could not imagine having a friendly drink after such drama.
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History of Harmony: Memorable Ash Drinking Sessions
The tradition of sharing a drink after a hard-fought Ashes series is famous. There are memorable stories of legendary players from Ian Botham and Dennis Lillee to Shane Warne and Kevin Pietersen putting aside rivalries to share beers and stories in the dressing room.
It is a ritual that symbolizes the unique balance of fierce competition and deep respect between players and opponents that defines the Ashes.
Why does this tradition matter more than ever?
In an age of non-stop media scrutiny and fan intensity on social media, these moments of informal connection are so important. The main reason is that many players from both England and Australia will likely not be a part of the next Ashes, making it really important to revive this tradition.
However, the current Ashes series has been far calmer, healthier and more respectful than the fiery clashes of the past, with both teams focusing more on cricket than conflict. There were only a few sniping decisions and debate on the Melbourne pitch for the fourth Test, which ended in two days.
