Travis Head walked out to bat tonight, facing pressure that wasn't just about the scoreboard. He was standing on the edge of a piece of history no player wants.

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Before this must-win clash against Sri Lanka, Travis Head had gone 13 consecutive T20 International innings as an opener without reaching a score of 50. That dry spell tied him with the legendary Adam Gilchrist for the longest such streak in Australian history. One more failure today, and the unwanted record would have been his alone.

With Australia’s tournament hopes hanging by a thread, the team desperately needed their explosive opener to fire. And fire he did.

Head didn't just break the streak; he shattered it. Playing with the freedom we are used to seeing, he blasted his way past 50 with a strike rate near 200. The relief was obvious as he dodged the record books. More importantly, he combined with skipper Mitchell Marsh at the top of the order for a wonderful, aggressive partnership that set up the game in which he contributed 56 runs off his bat.

Tonight, Travis Head proved that when the pressure is highest, he can still deliver the explosive starts Australia relies on.

The Unwanted Streak, Ft. Travis Head

  • 13 – Travis Head (2024-26) – Streak ends today

  • 13 – Adam Gilchrist (2005-08)

  • 11 – Aaron Finch (2018)

  • 11 – Matthew Wade (2021)

  • 11 – Aaron Finch (2021-22)

  • 11 – Matt Short (2023-26)