Australia crush England in two-day Ashes Test: Travis Head shines with stunning century

Saturday 22 November 2025 6:40 PM IST

PERTH: Australia outclassed England in the opening Ashes Test, securing a convincing victory that ended on just the second day. The hosts cruised to an eight-wicket win in the third session, chasing down the target of 205 in only 28.2 overs. Travis Head was the star of the match, delivering a breathtaking 123 off 83 balls. His century shifted the momentum entirely in Australia’s favour, and many fans are calling it one of the standout innings in Ashes history.

The two-day Test at Perth saw bowlers dominate early, creating constant pressure on both sides. When England set a target of more than 200 runs against Australia, many thought it would be a tough chase. However, Travis Head’s unexpected role as opener changed the script. His aggressive and confident batting, featuring 16 boundaries and four sixes, powered Australia to a comfortable and stylish victory.

Australian pacer Mitchell Starc was another star of the match. In the first innings, he took seven wickets for 58 runs, the best bowling figures ever recorded at Optus Stadium. He continued his strong performance in the second innings as well. Starc began his attack by dismissing Zak Crawley for a duck, and later took the key wickets of Joe Root and England captain Ben Stokes. Starc finished the match with a total of 10 wickets. Australia now lead the five-match series 1–0. The second Test will be played at the Gabba in Brisbane on December 2.