Australia opening batsman Travis Head is likely to miss Adelaide Strikers’ ongoing Big Bash League (BBL) season following the 2025-26 Ashes against England. The Australian star said the mental and emotional toll of playing the Ashes series made it difficult for him to play in the T20 tournament right away.

Hyde was Australia’s best performer in the Ashes, scoring 437 runs in four Tests at an average of 54.62 and a strike rate of 84.20. He scored centuries in games in Perth and Adelaide, playing a key role in sealing Australia’s 3-1 lead. The final test will be held in Sydney on January 4.

With the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup taking place in February, there is optimism that most of Australia’s Test regulars can play in the post-Ashes Big Bash League to stay fit for the tournament.

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As emotions drain, Travis Head’s BBL 2026 appearance unlikely

Travis Head says he may not play in the second half of the Big Bash League season, citing the emotional trauma of the Ashes. The Australian batsman said it is important to stay mentally fresh and his availability in the BBL will depend on how his workload is managed.

“That’s probably unlikely given the emotional drain of the Ashes series and the World Cup looming on the horizon,” Hyde told News Corp about the prospect of playing in the BBL.

“You go into every series hoping to make a good contribution. I feel like I’m pretty close to that goal and playing really well. And the emotional drain of actually getting involved with the Ashes series and playing it was always going to be tough. So I think it’s important to go into the World Cup with a fresh attitude, but we’ll see where we can go,” he added.

Australia face intensive Test schedule post IPL 2026

After the World Cup, Travis Head will return to franchise cricket with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL). Australia will face a busy Test cricket schedule after the IPL.

Australia will face Bangladesh at home in August before traveling to South Africa in October for their first visit since 2018. They will then host New Zealand before heading to India in January 2027 for a challenging tour.

The two teams will play a historic 150th anniversary Test against England at the MCG in March 2027, followed by an away Ashes series in the UK later that year. The ODI World Cup will be held in late 2027, before Australia enter another five-match summer home Test campaign.

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 often skipped the BBL to focus on international cricket and the Indian Premier League.

Head has become an important part of Sunrisers Hyderabad. He opened the batting alongside Abhishek Sharma and played a key role in SRH’s run to the 2024 final.

The current BBL season, which starts on December 14, is once again affected by Australia’s busy international schedule. Many Test players missed the tournament as it clashed with the Ashes as the BBL does not have a separate window like the IPL.

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