Archive · 8 Aug 2026
Travis Head: 'I am not a true opening batter'
Travis Head is a famous cricketer who plays for Australia.
He recently won a big award called the Allan Border Medal.
His job is to bat right at the top of the order, which is one of the hardest jobs in cricket.
Head says he doesn't really think of himself as a 'true opening batter,' but he is happy with how he is playing.
In the big Ashes series against England, he scored 600 runs and helped Australia win.
He opened the batting in only about ten or twelve of the more than 170 first-class games he has played.
Usually, he opens the batting in shorter formats or in special conditions like India and Sri Lanka.
Australia has 21 Test matches in the next ten months, and Head says he will do whatever the team needs.
Next, Australia plays Bangladesh in Darwin starting on August 13.
Travis Head, winner of the Allan Border Medal 2026, says he is not a 'true opening batter' but is comfortable with his game at the top.
Opening in the home Ashes against England, Head scored 600 runs — the most across both camps — including a match-winning 123 off 83 balls in Perth.
Head has opened in only about 10-12 of his roughly 170-180 first-class games, usually doing so in white-ball cricket or condition-specific setups like India and Sri Lanka.
He is expected to stay as Test opener at least until the end of the WTC cycle, starting with two Tests against Bangladesh in Darwin on August 13.
Australia face 21 Tests over the next ten months, including tours of South Africa, India (Border-Gavaskar Trophy) and the away Ashes in England.
- Who
- Travis Head, Australia's Test opener and recipient of the Allan Border Medal 2026.
- What
- Head said he is not a 'true opening batter' despite scoring 600 runs opening in the home Ashes, and he will keep playing whatever role the team needs.
- When
- Announced ahead of the two-Test series against Bangladesh starting Thursday, August 13; his first series as a Test opener came six months ago.
- Where
- Australia, including Perth, Adelaide, Sydney and the upcoming series in Darwin; future tours to South Africa, New Zealand, India and England.
- Why
- Head wants to contribute to every Test match and do what the team requires across Australia's busy schedule of 21 Tests in ten months.
- Award
- Allan Border Medal 2026
- Runs in home Ashes as opener
- 600, the most across both camps
- Series opener in Perth
- 123 off 83 balls; Australia won inside two days
- Century venues as opener
- Adelaide and Sydney
- First-class career
- Opened in about 10-12 of roughly 170-180 matches
- Next series
- Two Tests vs Bangladesh in Darwin from August 13
- Tests in next ten months
- 21
- Future tours
- South Africa, New Zealand, India (BGT), England (150th Test and away Ashes)