A line of beers is seen during the second day of the second Test match of the 2025/26 Ashes series between Australia and England at The Gabba on December 5, 2025 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo/Getty Images) Australian opener Travis Head said he hoped England and Australia would return to their tradition of sharing a drink after the Ashes, a practice that was disrupted during the 2023 series due to strained relations between the teams.Australia lead the current five-Test series 3-1 and have already wrapped up the contest, claiming their fifth straight Ashes series win and continuing to hold the urn.
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Tensions between the sides escalated during the second Test of the 2023 Ashes in England after Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey tripped Jonny Bairstow. Bairstow stepped out of his crease as he dodged a delivery from Cameron Green, resulting in a run-out that sparked the “spirit of cricket” debate.Head said he was looking forward to the chance for a post-series drink at the Sydney Cricket Ground and felt the game was played fairly by both teams.“There’s definitely mutual respect,” he said in comments reported by The Australian on Wednesday.“I get along really well with a couple of them.“There’s a really good relationship with both teams. I’m looking forward to having a beer with Ducky (Ben Duckett). So yeah, it would be a nice moment. It’s obviously nice to go there knowing we’ve won the series.”Australia retained the urn with their victory in the third Test in Adelaide, taking a 3-1 lead.During the 2023 series, relations deteriorated further after Australia players were abused by England supporters in the Long Room at Lord’s following the Bairstow incident. England coach Brendon McCullum later told the BBC that he could not imagine his side meeting the Australians for a drink at the time.After England won the final Test at The Oval by 49 runs to draw level at 2-2, McCullum said England would meet Australia for a drink. This meeting did not take place, leading to criticism of England in sections of the Australian media.England captain Ben Stokes later denied his team had beaten Australia, saying in a social media post that England’s post-series events at The Oval had taken longer than expected due to player and staff farewells.The fifth Test of the current series begins in Sydney on January 4.
