Travis Head has been released from Australia's T20 International squad for the remaining two matches against India to focus on preparations for the Ashes series. The 31-year-old will play in the Sheffield Shield for South Australia against Tasmania starting November 10, marking his return to first-class cricket since the tour of West Indies in July. The first Ashes Test against England begins on November 21 in Perth.
Cricket Australia is prioritizing red-ball cricket as the Ashes series approaches. Head's decision reflects this focus, with players and staff structuring their schedules around the Test series. Coach Andrew McDonald also left the T20I camp after the first ODI to begin Ashes planning, holding discussions with Steve Smith and Pat Cummins.
Head is not the only Australian player prioritizing Ashes preparation. Josh Hazlewood has also opted out of the 4th and 5th T20Is. Hazlewood and Sean Abbott, who both played in the initial T20I matches against India, will now represent New South Wales in a match against Victoria at the SCG. Every member of Australia's likely squad for the first Ashes Test is expected to participate in the next round of the Sheffield Shield.
The decision of whether to play in the Sheffield Shield or the final T20Is against India was left to Head, who chose to participate in the domestic competition. He had a successful Sheffield Shield season before last summer's Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, finishing as the leading run-scorer.
Matthew Short is expected to replace Head at the top of the batting order for the remaining T20Is. While Head has struggled recently, scoring only 93 runs in four innings across formats on the current tour of India, Short has been in good form, scoring 112 runs in three ODI innings. However, he was dismissed for a golden duck in the first T20I.
Australia currently holds a 1-0 lead in the five-match T20I series against India, with one match washed out. The team won the second T20I by four wickets at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday, October 31, chasing down the 126-run target in 14 overs. The final two T20Is will be played at Carrara on November 6 and Brisbane on November 8.
