Travis Head pips star duo to win second-straight Allan Border Medal
Swashbuckling batter Travis Head's big year — including three Ashes centuries — wins him a second straight Allan Border Medal, with fellow Ashes heroes Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc hot on his heels.
Travis Head triumphed over the star duo Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc to secure a second consecutive Allan Border Medal. The award, presented in Brisbane on Friday night, recognized Head as Australia's leading male cricketer for the 2025/26 season. Head amassed 153 votes, surpassing Carey's 152 and Starc's 150. Starc was honored with the Shane Warne Test Player of the Year award, while Mitchell Marsh claimed the ODI accolade.
Head's victory makes him join an elite group of cricketers, including Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Shane Watson, Steve Smith, and David Warner, who have won multiple Allan Border Medals. The 32-year-old played 30 matches across all formats during the season, scoring 1,437 runs, including a standout 123-ball innings in the first Ashes Test in Perth, and a remarkable 170 in his home Test in Adelaide.
Carey delivered a career-best season, scoring 1,079 runs in 24 games across formats, while also showcasing exceptional fielding skills. The Allan Border Medal, typically awarded during a gala event in Melbourne, was postponed due to scheduling conflicts. Last year, the women's team received the award, while Head accepted it via video as the men's team was touring Sri Lanka.
Earlier this year, Annabel Sutherland claimed a second consecutive Belinda Clark Award and was named the women's ODI player of the year.
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