Eman 
ZeeaK 
Ashes Chaos: Head’s Record Century Powers Australia to Humiliating Two-Day Victory
The highly anticipated Ashes 2025-26 series opener at the Perth Stadium concluded in a stunning defeat for England, as Australia claimed victory by eight wickets inside just two days. The Test, characterized by fierce fast bowling and collapse, was ultimately seized by a single, devastating innings from Travis Head.
The Great Collapse and Defendable Target
The match accelerated rapidly on Day 2. After taking a precarious 40-run lead from the first innings, England’s top-order batters, Ben Duckett (28) and Ollie Pope (33), briefly stabilized the innings, pushing the lead toward a comfortable margin.
- The Turning Point: A vicious, short, and accurate spell from Scott Boland and Mitchell Starc triggered a catastrophic collapse. England lost five wickets for just 23 runs in 40 minutes, with Joe Root, Harry Brook, and Ben Stokes all departing cheaply.
- Starc’s Dominance: Starc completed his match haul, finishing with ten wickets for the Test, while Boland claimed four key wickets in the second innings.
- Target Set: Despite resistance from the lower order (Gus Atkinson 37, Brydon Carse 20), England was bowled out for 164, setting Australia a target of 205 runs.
The Trav-Ball Counterattack
With a tricky target on a pitch offering inconsistent bounce, Travis Head was promoted to open in the absence of the injured Usman Khawaja. His innings was a brutal counter-punch, destroying England’s morale and bowling plans.
- Record Pace: Head scored a blistering 123 runs off just 83 deliveries, bringing up his century in only 69 balls—the second-fastest Ashes ton in history and the fastest-ever in the fourth innings of a Test.
- Carnage: Head targeted every bowler, striking 16 fours and 4 sixes, often taking on Captain Ben Stokes (who later admitted feeling “shell-shocked”).
- The Finish: Head was dismissed with only 13 runs needed. Marnus Labuschagne (51*) and Steve Smith finished the proceedings, completing the chase in just 28.2 overs at a scorching run rate of 7.24.
Match Conclusion
The swift, eight-wicket victory secured a 1-0 lead for Australia, leaving Ben Stokes to concede that Head’s innings had “knocked the wind out of” the English side. This was the first Ashes Test to conclude in just two days in over a century.
IMAGE CREDITS : CRICKET HIGHLIGHTS 2
Copyright – Third Party Reference Inline Linking Embedded Video from Youtube
About the Author
