Australia Crush England in Two Days as Travis Head Smashes Rapid Century

Australia was handed a commanding eight-wicket victory in the opening Test of the 2025–26 Ashes series in Perth, where Travis Head’s explosive century was used to complete one of the quickest wins on Australian soil in nearly a century. The match finished inside 30 hours, making it the shortest Test played in Australia since 1932. It also became the first Ashes Test to end within two days since 1921.

A target of 205 was chased by Australia in only 28.2 overs, as the scoring rate was kept at a rapid 7.24 runs per over. Head, who was promoted to the opener’s role in the absence of the injured Usman Khawaja, was seen producing a remarkable 123 from 83 deliveries. His innings contained 16 fours and four sixes, and it was completed in just 69 balls, placing it equal third on the list of the fastest Test centuries by an Australian. A 117-run partnership with Marnus Labuschagne steadied the hosts after an early loss.

It was stated by Head that he was willing to accept the temporary promotion, adding that the decision did not trouble him. Australian captain Steve Smith confirmed later that even spinner Nathan Lyon had briefly been considered for the opener role due to a minor hip concern, before the team management settled on Head.

Earlier, the match had been turned in Australia’s favour after a sudden collapse struck England in their second innings. England, who had been steady at 1–65, lost 4–11 in a span of just 19 balls. The innings was disrupted by Scott Boland’s accuracy and Mitchell Starc’s pace, with Boland finishing on 4–33. Starc, who was named Player of the Match, collected three wickets in the innings and completed his third match haul of ten wickets.

By the end of England’s innings, only 164 runs were scored in 34.4 overs. England captain Ben Stokes admitted that the team had been left “shell-shocked” by the turn of events, especially by Head’s aggressive century. He commented that batters who had shown intent on the bouncy Perth pitch seemed to benefit more than those who played passively.

England’s problems began early when Zak Crawley was removed for a fifth-ball duck, caught brilliantly by Starc off his own bowling. Crawley became the first England opener since 1999 to register a pair in a Test match. A partnership of 65 runs between Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope followed, but the recovery was broken immediately after lunch. Edges toward the slips were produced repeatedly, and loose strokes from Pope and Harry Brook contributed to the collapse.

Joe Root’s dismissal for 8 further pushed England into trouble, while Jamie Smith survived an initial chance when Usman Khawaja dropped a regulation catch at first slip. Starc later dismissed Stokes for the eleventh time in their Test rivalry. Jamie Smith’s eventual dismissal came through a lengthy third-umpire review, which led to dissatisfaction among England supporters at the stadium.

A late partnership of 50 runs for the eighth wicket between Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse added brief resistance, but Boland and debutant Brendan Doggett, who claimed 3–51, closed out the innings before tea.

Australia’s chase began with debutant Jake Weatherald showing early nerves before settling into his innings. His dismissal for 23 ended a 79-run opening stand. Head, however, shifted immediately into white-ball style, bringing up his fifty in 36 balls. He continued to find boundaries with ease, even sending a flat-batted six off Jofra Archer over long-on.

As England’s bowlers lost rhythm, field spreads and short-length plans were attempted but failed to contain Head’s momentum. His century was raised through a thick edge to third man, bringing the crowd of nearly 50,000 to its feet, along with members of the visiting Barmy Army.

With the victory sealed inside two days, Australia took a 1–0 lead in the five-match Ashes series and moved into a strong position ahead of the second Test in Brisbane. England was left to regroup after what Stokes described as a “very tough start” to the tour.