Head heroics power Australia past England in Ashes opener
The 31-year-old batter hit a blistering hundred to make easy work of the 205-run target set by England on Day 2.
Australia beat England by eight wickets in the first Ashes Test at the Perth Stadium on second day's play, thanks to a swashbuckling knock from Travis Head in the fourth innings chase.
Head, who was promoted to open the batting in Australia’s second innings as they chased a target of 205, vindicated his captain’s decision as his 123 off 83 balls completely flattened England’s attempt to defend the total.
Head, who has come in clutch in several occasions, smashed 16 boundaries and four sixes enroute to his 10th Test hundred and was well supported by debutant Jake Weatherald (23) and Marnus Labuschagne (51*) as the hosts overcame a first innings deficit to pull off a victory in Perth and take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series as part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27.
England won the toss and elected to bat but could never get going despite Ben Duckett (21), Ollie Pope (46), Harry Brook (52) and Jamie Smith (33) all getting starts and were bundled out for 172 thanks to a stellar bowling effort from Mitchell Starc, who produced bowling figures of 7/58 inside his 13 overs.
Australia in reply were rocked early as Jofra Archer struck with just the second ball of the innings giving England the momentum they needed. Brydon Carse joined Archer as they made inroads in the Australian top order before Ben Stokes ripped through the middle and lower order to bowl out Australia for just 132 early on the second day.
England steadied the ship after losing Zak Crawley early with a 64-run stand between Duckett and Pope but Scott Boland’s twin blows gave Australia an opportunity to claw their way back into the game and took hold of it in both hands.
The home side’s pace attack came to the party and Starc, Boland and Brendan Doggett combined to restrict England to 164 despite cameos from Gus Atkinson and Carse lower down the order.
The hosts sprung a surprise sending Head to open the batting and the 31-year-old took the attack to England from the word go and took the game away from England.
He didn’t allow any English bowler to get into any kind of rhythm as the home side chased down the target of 205 with relative ease stretching their unbeaten run against England at home to 16 Tests.
The two teams clash in the second Test at The Gabba in Brisbane, beginning December 4.
