BBL 2018-19: Adelaide Strikes re-sign captain Travis Head for four more years

Middle-order batsman Travis Head has re-signed a further four-year deal with Adelaide Strikers in Big Bash League (BBL). The 24-year-old southpaw led the Strikers to the BBL title in the latest season and is also the franchise’s all-time highest run-getter. The next edition of Australia’s domestic T20 tournament will kick off on December 19 and continue till February 17, 2019.

The South Australian batsman made his Test debut recently against Pakistan and scored 72 in his first innings. He, however, had a poor outing in the recent three-match ODI series against South Africa at home, managing just 15 runs in three matches. The batsman, who has played 42 ODIs and has an international hundred, however, is looking forward to playing before his home crowd for four more years.

Head is excited to play for the home franchise again

“It’s exciting news that I get the opportunity to play for another four years at Adelaide Oval and in the blue. It’s an amazing time of the year, playing in front of my friends and family and Christmas time, for me it’s always a great time to be around and 50,000 at Adelaide Oval, it’s hard to go by,” Head was quoted as saying by the Strikers’ official website.

Head turned heads around in the BBL since 2014 by scoring 988 runs for the Strikers. In the last season, he slammed 374 runs and was picked as the man of the match in the semi-final versus Melbourne Renegades for his match-finishing 85 not out.

Strikers coach Jason Gillespie was also ecstatic about the deal and said: “To have our home-town captain Travis Head re-commit on a long-term deal is fantastic for the club and this state.”

Gillespie was also glad with the 24-year-old all-rounder Cameron Valente joining the Strikers. Valente is the second new face in the current Strikes roster for BBL.

“Cameron Valente joins us as a genuine allrounder who is handy at the death and also a fine striker of the ball. We are excited for Cam and believe that he rounds out our squad nicely and gives it considerable strength for the upcoming season,” he added.

Strikers will take on Brisbane Heats in the opening game of BBL 8 in Brisbane and will take on Melbourne Renegades in their first home match of the season on December 23.

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