Australia opener Travis Head has said he would like to see England and Australia bring back an old Ashes tradition — sharing a drink together once the series is over. The custom, which once reflected the mutual respect between the two historic rivals, has gradually disappeared in recent years as tensions between the teams have grown.
Australia has already won the 2025 Ashes series with a 3–1 result, which is why Head considers the last Test match in Sydney a great opportunity to bring back the team spirit. He thinks moments off the field are equal to the fights on it, especially after a long and strenuous series.
The relationship between the two teams suffered a lot during the 2023 Ashes in England, especially after the controversial stumping of Jonny Bairstow by Alex Carey at Lord’s. The incident caused not only angry reactions during the game but also off the field, where there was an unpleasant confrontation in the MCC Long Room during which Australian players were verbally abused. Afterward, England’s head coach Brendon McCullum remarked that the usual post-series party between the teams was unlikely because of the charged atmosphere at that time.
Before the Sydney Test, Head was optimistic that things might be different this time. He did say that there was still a lot of respect among the players and even mentioned that he had a good relationship with some of the England team. He said that having a drink together would be the best way to end the series.
“Head on it, After the great contest, the Ashes have always been like that.” The respect from both teams would be enough reason to have a beer together after all the ups and downs they experienced.
According to Head, winning the series makes the moment even more special and might help both teams to reconnect away from the intensity of competition.
The 2025 Ashes series has demonstrated a noticeable change in tone compared to the 2023 fiery clashes. There were occasional talking points, such as snickometer readings and pitch conditions, but the series stayed major flashpoints free. The mood of the contest was also influenced by England’s struggles on the field, as they fell 3–0 behind and once again failed to reclaim the urn, which led to their Ashes drought being extended to five series losses in a row.
England did manage to record a morale-boosting win in the last Test, but the final result had already been decided. For Head, however, the focus has now shifted away from the results and the scorecards.
As the ‘Sydney Test’ progresses, the off-field interaction between the players from both teams may turn out to be a quiet yet powerful reminder of what the Ashes have always represented — fierce rivalry on the field but mutual respect once the game is over.
