Australia defeated India to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with help of Travis Head’s secret booze ban

Australia is now the undisputed No.1 team in world cricket, following a brilliant comeback series win over India. And behind it all was a booze ban that was emphatically broken on Sunday.

Travis Head slapped a secret booze ban on himself in a bid to help Australia get its hands on the elusive Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Australia’s top run-scorer, who smashed two hundreds and a clutch 34 not out to secure sweet victory on the final day of the series at the SCG, celebrated with a couple of beers on Sunday night – but they were his first since September.

Head made the decision of his own accord given the magnitude of the marathon five-Test summer and what was at stake.

He had not drunk any alcohol since returning from the white-ball tour of the UK nearly three-and-a-half months ago.

Travis Head (C) slapped a secret booze ban on himself this summer. Picture: AFP

The 31-year-old is regarded as one of the great modern-day larrikins and has not shied away from his love of a beer.

That hasn’t changed but the sacrifice is a reflection of Head’s maturity as vice-captain and sense of responsibility as Australia’s most important batsman.

“I’m wrecked,” Head told Fox Cricket after the Test. “I don’t know what I’m going to do the next few days.

“But like I said, we’ve got 12 days off now before we go to Sri Lanka and I’m going to use every little bit of that.

“It’s been a tough tour. I’ll look forward to a couple of cold ones (after the match).

“I’ve been off the drink for a bit so I’ll look after myself and our attention will quickly turn to what’s next. So, (we’re) very pleased.”

Travis Head celebrates with the crowd after winning the Sydney Test. Picture Thomas Lisson

Head gave an insight into the toll a mega five-Test series takes on the players mentally and physically.

“It’s been a crazy five Tests,” Head told Fox. “It puts a lot on us and the guys who got through all five are looking forward to a bit of time off because it’s been crazy.

“The media has hyped it up in different directions, different narratives, which I don’t agree with some and I agree with some others.

“It’s a bloody tough tour for them (India) and for us, and it’s nice to come out on the winning side of things and it’s going to be nice to enjoy over the next couple of days and reflect on it.”

Head took to social media on Sunday night in the midst of Australia’s quiet celebrations to reprise his famous celebration from Melbourne in which he mimics dipping his finger in a bucket of ice – a tongue-and-cheek reference to having a hot bowling finger.

In a photo posted to Instagram, Head pictured himself dipping his finger in a cold schooner of beer with the caption “Ooppss”.

The Australian public is naturally drawn to Head’s everyman personality and he is an immensely popular figure.

However, Head said six months ago that while he wanted to be as authentic as he could be, he had also become more aware of perceptions and felt uncomfortable about being affectionately hailed the new “Boony” following photos of him celebrating Australia’s 2023 ODI World Cup win in India.

Travis Head celebrated Australia’s World Cup victory long and hard. Picture: Getty

Head is a proud and dedicated father of two and an increasingly pivotal part of the Australian team.

As the team’s vice-captain, Head is a great leader in his own unique way because he unites the dressing room and helps keeps things light and fun.

The numbers say Head is now Australia’s No.1 batsman as well and his average of 56 through the five Tests against India was remarkable given this was a bowler’s series in which the next best batting averages for the series belonged to Yashasvi Jaiswal at 43 and Steve Smith with 34.

Head will again be crucial in Sri Lanka this month as a vice-captain when Pat Cummins is absent for the birth of second child and handy wicket-taking spin option.

Selectors will also contemplate whether to move him up to open the batting, as he did as a horses-for-courses pick in India two years ago.

Originally published as Australia defeated India to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with help of Travis Head’s secret booze ban