Australian opener Travis Head produced one of the most destructive innings in Ashes history, powering his team to a humbling eight-wicket victory over England that concluded inside just two days - the first time this has happened in 104 years.
Historic Collapse at Perth
The match at Perth witnessed a dramatic turnaround as Australia, chasing a target of 205 runs, achieved victory in merely 28.2 overs. Travis Head's breathtaking century came from just 69 balls, effectively vaporising England's hopes and securing a 1-0 series lead for the hosts.
England had entered day two with a slender advantage, sitting at 59 for one during lunch with an overall lead of 105 runs. However, their position quickly unravelled as they collapsed to 164 all out, a total that would have been considerably worse without some late resistance from the lower order.
Australian Bowling Dominance
Australia's bowlers set the stage for Head's heroics, with Mitchell Starc completing a ten-wicket match haul after his seven-wicket performance on day one. Scott Boland rediscovered his form with an impressive four for 33, contributing significantly to England's second innings collapse.
The pitch conditions proved challenging throughout, with wickets falling approximately every three and a half overs on average. Despite this, England supporters found brief hope when Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse combined for a 50-run partnership, suggesting the contest remained alive.
Head's Decisive Innings
Any English optimism was swiftly extinguished by Travis Head, who was opening in place of Usman Khawaja. His aggressive approach completely dismantled England's bowling attack, making a mockery of the challenging target. Head eventually departed with just 13 runs required, having scored 123 from 83 deliveries to a standing ovation from the Perth crowd.
Reflecting on his match-winning performance, Head admitted: "I could easily have been out in the first over. Didn't really matter: I thought that was the right process, the right way of thinking. Go out there and see what happens, and it worked today."
England captain Ben Stokes appeared visibly shaken by the comprehensive defeat, telling BBC's Test Match Special: "We were shellshocked a little bit, wide eyed after that to see what unfolded. It's hard to settle in with plans when you look up and the runs are coming down quickly."
This remarkable two-day conclusion marks the shortest Ashes Test since 1921, delivering a psychological blow to England that may prove difficult to recover from as the series continues.
