Sydney, August 8: Australian left-handed batsman Travis Head has expressed his desire to continue playing as an opening batsman in Test cricket. Head stated that he feels quite comfortable with his game and believes he can play a significant role as an opener.
On Friday, Head was honored with the prestigious Allan Border Medal as Australia’s ‘Cricketer of the Year.’ He has consistently taken on the role of an opening batsman in white-ball cricket for Australia. However, he has only opened in Test matches under specific circumstances, primarily against India and Sri Lanka, prior to the Ashes series against England.
During the second innings of the Perth Test against England, Head got the opportunity to open after Usman Khawaja was injured. He seized this chance, scoring a remarkable 123 runs off 83 balls, helping Australia secure victory over England in just two days. Following this, he also scored centuries in Adelaide and Sydney, finishing the Ashes series with a total of 629 runs.
His performance has had a lasting impact beyond just that series. It seems likely that Head will maintain his position as Australia’s Test opener, especially with a busy schedule ahead that could see the team play up to 20 Tests, or 21 if they reach the World Test Championship final.
Discussing his role in the top order, Head acknowledged that his first-class career does not align with the traditional image of an opening batsman in Australian cricket. He told ESPN Cricinfo, “I don’t know the exact figures, but I’ve probably played around 170 or 180 first-class matches. I’ve only opened in maybe ten of them. I think that shows I’m not an opening batsman in the true sense, like those who have opened from the start in state and Test cricket.”
The Australian opener further remarked, “I believe my game is suited well for this role. I think I can play a good part as an opener. I play at the top, but I’m not a complete opening batter. I know I need to work hard against the new ball. I understand I will make mistakes, and that’s okay. I feel very comfortable with my game.”
Head’s success as an opener has been a crucial part of the memorable 2025/26 international season, where he scored 1,437 runs in 30 matches across all formats. For his outstanding performance, he received the prestigious Allan Border Medal for the second consecutive year at Cricket Australia’s awards ceremony. He garnered 153 votes, narrowly surpassing his South Australian teammate and wicketkeeper-batsman Alex Carey, who received 152 votes after scoring 1,079 runs in 24 matches.
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