Travis Head's Century Seals Thrilling Australia Win Over England in Ashes Opener at Perth

Travis Head smashed a blistering century to guide Australia to a dramatic two-wicket victory over England in the First Ashes Test at Perth Stadium on November 20, 2025 — the first time Australia has won an Ashes opener since 2021-22. The win, sealed with just 12 balls to spare, gave Australia a 1-0 lead in the five-match series and continued their near-unbeatable record at the 60,000-capacity venue, where they’ve now won eight of the last 10 Tests against England since 1970. But the story wasn’t just Head’s brilliance. It was the collapse. The chaos. The way England, seemingly in control, unraveled in the space of 11 deliveries — and how Australia, under Pat Cummins, turned pressure into poetry.

The Collapse That Changed Everything

England’s second innings began with hope. At 57 for 1, they looked set to force a draw, maybe even steal a win. Then came Scott Boland. In the 19th over, at 5:26 p.m. local time, Boland ripped through the heart of England’s batting order. Three wickets in 11 balls. First, Ben Duckett, adjudicated lbw after a dramatic DRS review confirmed the ball had kissed the ground. Then, Jacob Bethell, caught behind for a golden duck. Then, Ollie Pope, caught by Steve Smith — his 203rd Test catch, a record for an Australian fielder. The scoreboard read 76 for 4. The stadium fell silent. Then it erupted.

By 11:25, England were 9 down. Mark Wood’s six off the first ball of his cameo offered fleeting hope — a moment of brute force in a sea of panic. But Gus Atkinson’s 32, the last meaningful resistance, ended when Boland trapped him leg before. England were all out for 160. A lead of 204. And a target of 205 for Australia to chase. The commentary summed it up: “They’re not just chasing. They’re hunting.”

Head’s Masterclass and the Chase That Broke England

Australia’s reply wasn’t pretty — it was pure theater. Travis Head, the Adelaide-born left-hander, came in at 17 for 2 and turned the pressure into a personal statement. He danced down the track, pulled short balls over square leg, and drove seamers through the covers like they were on rails. His 104 came off just 119 balls — 13 fours, 4 sixes. At 1069 seconds into the innings, the commentary noted: “Head and Labuschagne carrying Australia on their backs.”

Marnus Labuschagne was the perfect foil — calm, technical, unflappable. He added 89 not out, anchoring the chase while Head unleashed. When Labuschagne lofted a full toss from Mark Wood over midwicket for four, the crowd roared like it was the final over of a World Cup final. The winning runs came with two balls to spare. Head raised his bat. The crowd chanted his name. The scoreboard read: Australia 205 for 8.

Behind the scenes, Mitchell Starc had already done his damage. His first over — a searing 149 km/h yorker that clipped the off stump of Zak Crawley — set the tone. Starc finished with 3 for 42. His ability to swing it both ways, at pace, made England’s top order look like schoolboys.

Why This Win Matters

This wasn’t just another Test win. It was a statement. Australia hadn’t won an Ashes opener in four years. England had won the last two series. And Perth Stadium? It’s become a fortress. Since 2011, Australia has lost just once there in an Ashes Test. The 2025-26 series is now a battle of momentum. England’s batting — so brittle under pressure — exposed again. Their captain, Ben Stokes, looked shell-shocked. He had no answers. No plan. Just a shrug.

Meanwhile, Cricket Australia’s investment in fast-bowling depth — Boland, Starc, Pat Cummins, and the emerging Gus Atkinson — paid off in spades. This team doesn’t rely on one star. It’s a machine. And now, with the next Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground starting December 26, 2025, the pressure shifts squarely to England. Can they rebuild? Or will they crumble again?

What’s Next? The Ashes Are Alive

The Ashes series, now in its 73rd edition since 1882, has rarely felt this alive after just one match. England’s collapse wasn’t just a loss — it was a psychological blow. They’ll need to find a top-order hero. Maybe Joe Root, maybe Ben Duckett, must rediscover form. Their spinners, Moeen Ali and Jack Leach, will be asked to do more. But with Australia’s attack firing and their batting firing back, England’s task just got harder.

For Australia, this win rekindles the old magic. The 2021-22 series saw them dominate England 4-0. Now, with Head and Labuschagne in form, Cummins leading with quiet authority, and Boland bowling like a man possessed, they’re back to their best. And Perth? It’s their cathedral.