Travis Head dismantles Bazball as Ashes opener ends inside two days in Perth

Travis Head didn’t just play one of the greatest Ashes innings — he produced one of the finest knocks in the history of Test cricket, landing a brutal first blow on England in an opener.

That astonishingly finished inside two days at Optus Stadium in Perth. With an explosive 83-ball 123, the 2023 World Cup hero broke English resistance, silenced Bazball and left former players “bloody disappointed” on a dramatic Saturday.

The Test lasted just 141.2 overs but packed in enough twists for a five-day epic. Mitchell Starc’s seven wickets and Ben Stokes’ five-for set up a frenetic Day 1, yet the moment destined for immortality was the Travis Head special.

“A little shell-shocked. That was some knock from Trav,” Stokes admitted, echoing the disbelief of millions who tuned in for the long-awaited Ashes clash. For all of England’s hopes of ending a 13-year winless run on Australian soil, Head had other ideas.

This was only the seventh Ashes Test ever completed within two days — and the third-shortest Test in history to produce a result by balls bowled.

HEAD RIPS UP THE SCRIPT

On a surface that resembled a batter’s graveyard — 30 wickets fell in five sessions — England held the upper hand after setting Australia 205 to win. Their Bazball blueprint appeared perfectly poised for a rare series-opening victory in Australia, especially with the pitch still lively and their quicks breathing fire.

Australia had been rattled in the first innings, and England’s 30-run lead felt more imposing than it looked. But a second-innings collapse to 164 left the door open just enough.

Still, 205 on a minefield seemed plenty — until Head walked out.

With Usman Khawaja nursing a back issue, Head was asked to open in an Ashes Test for the first time. And he responded by unleashing Travball — far fiercer than anything England threw at him. Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson ran in with the momentum of the match behind them, only to run headfirst into Head’s astonishing counterattack.

He neutralised the pitch, bulldozed pace, and treated the chase as if it were a white-ball final rather than a high-stakes Ashes fourth innings.

Head smashed 16 fours and two sixes, powering Australia to the target inside a single session. He wasn’t there when the winning runs were struck, but Optus Stadium rose as one to salute him — and even the Barmy Army stood to applaud.

England’s players, Stokes included, made a point of seeking him out. They knew they had witnessed something historic.

STARC AND BOLAND CRUSH ENGLAND

England’s troubles resumed early when Starc removed Zak Crawley for a pair with a sharp return catch. Duckett and Pope offered resistance with a 64-run stand, and when England’s lead swelled past 100, Australia briefly looked cornered.

Enter Scott Boland.

With the game tilting England’s way, Boland produced a match-defining over, dismissing Duckett for 68 and then removing Pope and Brook in the same over to turn the contest on its head.

Starc returned to remove Joe Root — completing the former skipper’s forgettable match — before Brydon Carse and Atkinson attempted a late counterpunch. But debutant Brendan Doggett cleaned up the tail, ensuring the target stayed within reach.

LOOKING AHEAD

England may have taken the first punch, but they now have more than 10 days to regroup. The second Test — a pink-ball day-nighter — begins in Brisbane on December 4, with England set to face the Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra before the match.