Australia has seized a decisive 1-0 lead in the Ashes opener, securing a comprehensive eight-wicket victory against England following a spectacular 83-ball 123 from makeshift opener Travis Head. The contest concluded on Day Two at Perth Stadium, lasting only 30 hours in total, making it the shortest Test match on Australian soil since 1932. The last time an Ashes Test finished inside two days was 1921.
Head’s explosive performance was dubbed “Travball,” delivering England’s “Bazballers” a taste of their own medicine and leaving the tourists “shell-shocked”.
Head’s Historic Blitz Stuns Poms
Elevated to the opener position due to the absence of the injured Usman Khawaja, Head single-handedly dismantled the target of 205 runs. The South Australian passed triple figures in just 69 deliveries, cementing the equal third-fastest century by an Australian in Tests. Head’s feat equals David Warner’s 69-ball century against India in 2012.
Head smashed 16 boundaries and four sixes during his “swashbuckling knock”, combining with Marnus Labuschagne for a 117-run partnership for the second wicket. After a “nervy start” for debutant Jake Weatherald, who departed for 23, Head continued flowing, even thumping four boundaries in an over against England captain Ben Stokes.
When asked about his promotion, Head stated, “I was happy to do it… I was pretty keen to do it. Luckily they let me”. Australian captain Steve Smith later admitted they had considered veteran spinner Nathan Lyon for the opener role but laughed that they “made the right decision in the end”.
The astonishing nature of Head’s innings was highlighted by the fact that nobody else in the match managed more than 52 runs, making it seem “as though he was batting on a completely different pitch”. Australia completed the chase in just 28.2 overs, ticking along at a blistering tempo of 7.24 runs per over.
England’s Dramatic Collapse
The foundation for Australia’s quick victory was laid earlier on Saturday by fast bowlers Scott Boland and Mitchell Starc, who “flipped the match on its head”. England’s second innings, which had seemed commanding at 1-65, evaporated during a frantic afternoon session featuring nine wickets. The middle order suffered a “dramatic 19-ball collapse of 4-11,” largely due to “poor shot selection and lazy execution”.
The tourists were bowled out for 164 in 34.4 overs. Boland finished with impressive figures of 4-33. Mitchell Starc, who was named Player of the Match, secured three scalps to complete his third ten-wicket haul in Tests. Starc was lauded by Smith, who said he “bowled like a genius”.
England’s second innings started poorly, with Starc removing opener Zak Crawley for a fifth-ball duck via a stunning one-handed return catch. Crawley became the first England opener to bag a pair in a Test match since 1999. Following lunch, Boland wreaked havoc, dismissing Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, and Harry Brook, all edging toward the slips cordon. Starc claimed the key wicket of superstar Joe Root, who chopped on for 8.
Reactions and Looking Ahead
England Captain Ben Stokes admitted that Head’s innings was “pretty phenomenal” and confessed the tourists were “a little bit shell-shocked”. He acknowledged the loss “hurts extremely,” especially after feeling “in control of the game”. Stokes defended England’s batting style, suggesting that the players who found success were those who “looked to take the bowlers on”.
Australian captain Smith praised the match-winning effort: “That innings from Head was out of this world. He played some outrageous shots. That was just incredible to witness”.
After the swift finish, Head joked, “I feel bad for the 60,000 that were due to come in tomorrow”.
With the hosts leading 1-0 in the five-match series, the second Ashes Test between Australia and England is scheduled to get underway at the Gabba on December 4.