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Travis Head Calls for Reviving Ashes Post-Series Drinks Tradition in Sydney

Australia's Travis Head has expressed hope that the traditional post-series drinks between England and Australia will be revived after the current Ashes. The practice was disrupted in 2023 following the controversial stumping of Jonny Bairstow and subsequent tensions. Relations have been more amicable in the 2025 series, despite England's struggles on the field. Head emphasized mutual respect and his eagerness to share a beer with England's Ben Duckett after the series concludes.

Key Points: Head Hopes to Revive Ashes Post-Series Drinks Tradition

  • Head seeks to revive Ashes drinks tradition
  • 2023 tensions over Bairstow stumping
  • England's struggles in 2025 series
  • Calmer atmosphere in current Ashes
3 min read

Head hopes to revive old Ashes tradition with post-series drinks in Sydney

Australia's Travis Head hopes to revive the Ashes post-series drinks tradition in Sydney, after tensions disrupted the practice in 2023.

"There's definitely mutual respect... I'm looking forward to having a beer with Ducky. – Travis Head"

New Delhi, Dec 31

Australia opener Travis Head expressed hope that England and Australia will revive their tradition of meeting for a drink after the Ashes. This practice was somewhat disrupted in 2023 due to deteriorating relationships over the series.

Australia currently lead the series 3-1 and have already secured victory, marking their fifth consecutive Ashes series victory and their ongoing hold on the urn.

Relations between the two sides worsened significantly during the second Test of the 2023 Ashes in England after Alex Carey stumped Jonny Bairstow when Bairstow stepped out of his crease while ducking a ball from Cameron Green.

The incident was followed by ugly scenes at Lord's, where Australian players were subjected to verbal abuse from MCC members in the Long Room. In the aftermath, England head coach Brendon McCullum said that, considering what had happened, he could not see how the teams could come together for their customary end-of-series drink.

"There's definitely mutual respect. I get along with a couple of them really well. There's some really good relationships with both teams. I'm looking forward to having a beer with Ducky (Ben Duckett). So, yeah, it'd be a nice moment. It's obviously nice going there knowing that we've won the series," Head was quoted as saying by The Australian newspaper on Wednesday.

McCullum later said the teams would eventually get together after England won the final Test, which saw the series end in a 2-2 draw. However, the delay drew criticism from sections of the Australian media, with suggestions that England had deliberately avoided the traditional gathering. Captain Ben Stokes rejected those claims, explaining that England's post-series commitments at The Oval ran longer than planned because of farewell moments for players and staff.

In contrast, the 2025 Ashes in Australia has unfolded in a far more amicable atmosphere. Any controversy has largely centred on issues affecting both teams, such as disputed snicko readings and the surface for the fourth Test at the MCG, which led to the second two-day Test of the series.

The calmer tone has also been influenced by England's struggles on the field. After failing to match Australia in the opening three Tests, they slumped to a 3-0 deficit and, once again, surrendered the Ashes, extending their drought to a fifth consecutive year.

Their ultra-aggressive approach under Stokes and McCullum backfired, intensifying scrutiny and criticism, even though they managed to end a 15-year wait for a Test victory in Australia with their win at the MCG.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priyanka N
The spirit of cricket is more important than any single dismissal or series win. The Bairstow stumping was within the rules but perhaps against the unwritten spirit. Glad the atmosphere is better now. As an Indian fan, I wish our team had such a storied tradition with someone! The Ashes is special. 🏏
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Aryan P
Honestly, England's 'Bazball' approach was entertaining but naive in Australia. You can't just blast your way to victory there. Their struggle made the series less competitive, which probably helped cool tensions. Australia was just too good. Respect to Head for wanting to share a beer despite the one-sided scoreline.
S
Sarah B
The media on both sides really blew things out of proportion last time. It's just a game at the end of the day. The players are professionals who can separate competition from camaraderie. This tradition is a lovely part of cricket's culture and should be preserved.
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Vikram M
Watching from India, the Ashes passion is unmatched. But the post-match drink is a classy tradition that shows what the game is really about. Hope they do it. Our Indian team could learn a thing or two about handling defeat with such grace—sometimes our reactions to losing a big series are too harsh.
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Karan T
The article mentions the MCG pitch controversy. That's the real issue affecting modern Test cricket, not players having a beer. Poor pitches ruin contests for everyone, fans included. Focus on that, not just on-field spats.

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