Travis Head signs a fresh contract with Strikers

Australia’s explosive batter Travis Head has signed a new one-year contract with Australian T20 League franchise Strikers. The southpaw was unavailable for the entire 2023-24 season due to national commitments and the extent of his involvement in the competition is also not certain at this moment. 

Australia are scheduled to play a five-match Test series at home against India and, while the Strikers still have three games after the series, the availability of players on national duty is undisclosed, given their SL tour in February. 

Head retention bolsters Strikers’ batting unit which already possesses the likes of Matt Short, Chris Lynn, Alex Carey and Ollie Pope. Head’s retention concludes the Strikers’ squad as the South Australian franchise looks to prepare for a strong 24-25 season. 

“I'm thrilled to sign for another year with the Strikers and can't wait to get back amongst the group under our new coach Tim Paine," Head said. "I love pulling on the blue every chance I get and look forward to helping the boys go one step further after their fantastic late-season run to the finals last summer."

Since clinching the Australian T20 League title in the 17-18 season, Strikers have qualified for the playoffs in four of the next six seasons but haven’t made it to the final thereafter. Former Australian skipper Paine, now the head of the Strikers’ men’s team sounded optimistic with Head’s retention. 

“We understand 'Trav' has a hectic international schedule, but we also know how much he loves getting back in the blue whenever the chance arises," Paine said. "He's been in amazing form across every format in the past year or more, as we saw with his brilliant 154 not out off 129 balls in the ODI against England recently."

Head has had a scintillating 2024 thus far, tallying 539 runs from 15 innings at a staggering strike rate of 178.47 with four fifties. It is the second year on a bounce that Head has had a strike rate of over 175 but unlike last year, we’ve seen a mix of ultra-aggression and consistency and thus created a devastating impact for the reigning champions at the top of the order.