Travis Head has created history by winning the Allan Border Medal for a second consecutive year, becoming only the fifth Australian cricketer to achieve the feat. The left-handed batter edged close friend and teammate Alex Carey by just one vote to claim Australia’s prestigious men’s individual cricket award.
Head received his second straight medal from former Australian captain Allan Border at the awards ceremony on Friday. The 32-year-old topped the voting for the period between January 29, 2025, and January 8, 2026, with Carey finishing just one vote behind him. Mitchell Starc came third, three votes adrift of Head.
Reflecting on the achievement, Travis Head said it was special to have two medals that his children could look back on in the future.
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The batter’s outstanding performances during the Ashes played a major role in his success. Head produced three memorable innings in the series, scoring 123 in Perth, 170 in Adelaide, and 163 in the New Year’s Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground. He also continued his excellent form in ODIs, smashing 142 against South Africa in Mackay.
Travis Head won the Allan Border Medal by just one vote 😯 pic.twitter.com/Jr4oe8vYM2
— Cricinfo (@cricinfo) August 7, 2026
Head finished the voting period as Australia’s leading run-scorer in Test cricket and also topped the team’s run charts in ODIs. His performances were particularly impressive after successfully moving into the opening role during the Ashes.
The latest triumph puts Head alongside Steve Smith and Nathan Lyon as Australia’s only multiple Allan Border Medal winners. Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, David Warner, and Shane Watson have also won the award in consecutive years.
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Meanwhile, Mitchell Starc was recognised as Australia’s Shane Warne Men’s Test Player of the Year after a superb Ashes campaign in which he claimed 31 wickets. His standout performance included remarkable figures of 6/9 with a pink Dukes ball in Jamaica. Mitchell Marsh won the ODI Player of the Year award, while Tim David was named T20I Player of the Year. Annabel Sutherland had earlier claimed the Belinda Clark Medal in February.
