Travis Head joins elite list with second straight Allan Border Medal

Travis Head has gone back-to-back at the Allan Border Medal, edging Alex Carey in a thrilling vote. The Australia star's remarkable year across Tests and ODIs has now put him among the select group of consecutive winners.Head topped Australia's Test and ODI run-scoring charts. (Photo: Reuters)Travis Head has become only the fifth Australian cricketer to win the Allan Border Medal in consecutive years after edging Alex Carey in a remarkably close contest for Australia's top men's individual cricket award. The left-hander was separated from Carey by just one vote, with Mitchell Starc finishing three votes behind him.Head received his second successive medal from former Australia captain Allan Border at Friday's awards ceremony, making the occasion particularly special for the 32-year-old."I felt very privileged and honoured to have 'AB' in the room. That's the difference from last year's presentation in Sri Lanka, is having him there to present it," Head said, as quoted by cricket.com.au.The award caps another prolific year for Head, who finished the voting period as Australia's leading Test run-scorer while also topping the ODI batting charts. His performances across both formats ensured he remained at the centre of Australia's batting plans. "To think that I've got two medals and my kids can look at them and I can tell them about it in 20 years' time is pretty cool. To have both India and England series in there for both medals is cool," he added.ASHES HEROICS SEAL THE DEALHead's decisive contribution came during the New Year's Test at the SCG, where he struck 163. It was his third century of the Ashes series after he made an unexpected move to the opening position. That innings formed part of a standout Ashes campaign in which Head also scored 123 in Perth and 170 in Adelaide. He additionally produced a 142 against South Africa in an ODI at Mackay, underlining his impact across Australia's white-ball and red-ball teams.Head's victory came after a tense voting battle. Carey finished just one vote behind him, while Starc was three votes adrift.By winning back-to-back medals, Head joins a select group of Australian cricketers to achieve the feat. Steve Smith and Nathan Lyon are also multiple winners of the Allan Border Medal, while Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, David Warner and Shane Watson previously won the award in consecutive years.STARC, MARSH AND DAVID ALSO HONOUREDStarc took home the Shane Warne Men's Test Player of the Year award after another outstanding campaign. The fast bowler claimed 31 wickets during the Ashes and produced a remarkable 6 for 9 with a pink Dukes ball in Jamaica.Mitchell Marsh was named Australia's ODI Player of the Year, while Tim David collected the T20I Player of the Year award.The women's Belinda Clark Medal had already been presented to Annabel Sutherland in February, with Cricket Australia unable to stage a combined formal awards night because of the overlapping schedules of the men's and women's teams.For Head, though, the night belonged to a player who has now turned back-to-back recognition into a place among Australia's elite award winners.- EndsPublished By: Debodinna ChakrabortyPublished On: Aug 8, 2026 08:27 IST