Australia national cricket team opening batsman Travis Head has pulled out of the last two matches of the ongoing five-match T20I series against India to focus on red-ball cricket ahead of the much-awaited Ashes 2025-26 series against England on home soil.
Travis Head will return to represent South Australia in the Sheffield Shield 2025–26, where he will play against Tasmania in Hobart next week. This will be Head’s first first-class appearance since Australia’s tour of the West Indies in July.
Travis Head chooses Sheffield Shield over India T20Is to regain form ahead of Ashes
After a poor performance in white-ball cricket, Travis Head is now keen to regain form in red-ball cricket. His highest score in the last eight innings across all formats has been just 31. Travis Head has been going through a bad phase since his explosive innings of 142 runs against South Africa in August.
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Now, as the Ashes 2025-26 approaches, Travis Head is preparing for the longest format of the game, Sheffield Shield 2025-26, by switching to match-ready tactics.
Travis Head joins a growing list of senior Australian players including Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Sean Abbott who have opted to prepare for the high-profile five-match Test series by playing for their respective states in the next round of the 2025-26 Sheffield Shield.
Australian stars end T20I campaign early to prioritize Ashes preparations
The Australian selectors reportedly left the decision to Head, and the 31-year-old decided to play ball cricket instead for South Australia alongside teammate Alex Carey in the T20I series against India. The upcoming Shield round will feature almost the entire Australian Test squad, making it one of the most star-studded home weeks in recent times.
Meanwhile, Josh Hazlewood and Sean Abbott will play for New South Wales in a blockbuster clash against Victoria, which will feature big names like Starc, Smith and Nathan Lyon. Scott Boland will lead Victoria’s bowling attack after being rested last week.
Additionally, Australian all-rounder Cameron Green is set to bowl again for Western Australia against Queensland at the WACA Ground after recovering from side soreness, while Marnus Labuschagne and Matt Renshaw will look to strengthen their claims for a Test spot.
Tanvir Sangha released, Adam Zampa on standby as Australia tinker with formats
Tanvir Sangha, on the other hand, has been released from the T20 squad to play in the One-Day Cup, while Adam Zampa is on standby awaiting the birth of his second child. Ben Dwarshuis will rejoin the T20I squad for the remaining two matches against India.
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With the ongoing five-match T20 series now tied at 1-1, Australia’s focus is divided as the youngsters face India while the Test veterans turn their attention to Ashes preparations.
The race for places in Australia’s Ashes squad is heating up, and the next round of Sheffield Shield games could decide who gets a place in the first Test in Perth on November 21.
Selectors ready to finalize Ashes squad as Beau Webster, Matt Renshaw and Marnus Labuschagne look for Test places
The selectors are expected to announce the squad just before the first Test. All-rounder Beau Webster will aim to perform well against South Australia to remain in the team. Webster’s Tasmania teammate Jake Weatherald is also looking to impress.
Even if he is not selected immediately, a big performance could put him in line for a call-up if a change is needed later in the series. Queensland’s Matthew Renshaw and Marnus Labuschagne will also get a chance when they face Western Australia in Perth from November 11. Both are aiming to find form at the right time to secure their Test berths.
