It has been an incredible rise to stardom for South Australian Travis Head. Once viewed as an inconsistent, flashy left-hander, Head has since transformed himself into one of the best big-moment players the game has seen.
Head was earmarked as a talent in South Australia early on, where he debuted at Shield level as an 18-year-old in the 2011/12 season. He was later handed the South Australian captaincy at 21, becoming the youngest captain in the state's illustrious cricket history.
After several successful years plying his trade for South Australia, he went on to debut for Australia in all three formats across two years.
He debuted on ODI and T20I cricket in 2016, while two years later featured at Test level for the first time against Pakistan in Dubai.
But it has been far from smooth sailing for Head at the highest level. The dynamic left-hander has been omitted numerous times at Test and ODI levels, but it was his return to the international stage in 2021/2022 that ignited his career and propelled him into the top echelon of batsmen in the world.
His Test and ODI careers can be split into two distinct chapters. Pre 2021 and post 2021.
Before 2021, in Test cricket, Head averaged 39.8 at a strike rate of 36.5 with two centuries. In ODI cricket, he averaged 34.4 at a strike rate of 90 with one century.
Those numbers are certainly respectable, but they are dwarfed by the heights he has reached since.
Post 2021, in Test cricket, he has averaged 43.9 at a strike rate of 80.1 with nine centuries (excluding 2026). In ODI cricket, he has averaged 54.2 at a strike rate of 121.3 with six centuries.
Head's transformation has been most evident when the stakes are highest. His ability to counterpunch under pressure and produce his swashbuckling best in the biggest moments is unparalleled. He has developed a rare capacity to completely transform matches in short, decisive bursts.
His 137 in an ODI World Cup Final is arguably his finest innings. Chasing India's first innings total of 240 in front of a hostile Indian Crowd, Head opened the batting as the Aussies fell to 3-47 in the sixth over. In a precarious position, Head counterpunched to score a blistering 137 off 120 balls and lead the Aussies to their sixth ODI World Cup.
Head's 163 against India in the World Test Championship Final at The Oval in 2023 again reinforced his status as a big-game player. Walking to the crease with Australia 3-76 in the first innings, Head, in combination with Steve Smith, seized control of the contest and placed Australia in complete control as they compiled 469 in the first innings.
More recently, his 123 off 83 balls against England in the opening Test of the 2025 Ashes in Perth was another prime example of his game-breaking ability. On a surface where both teams made scoring look near impossible, Head tore the game apart with an 80-ball century, ending the contest in one devastating burst. Australia chased 205 in just 28 overs thanks to Head, wrapping up the match late on day two.
Head has emerged as a cult figure among Australian fans with his box-office approach. People flock to grounds across the world to watch the slashing left-hander flay world-class attacks behind point time and again with his trademark cut shot.
But it wasn't always the case.
Head's rise to international stardom is proof that conviction and belief in your own method is a recipe for success at the highest level.
