The second day of the 2025-26 Ashes opener at Perth Stadium witnessed one of the most destructive hundreds in modern Ashes history from Travis Head. In his first Test as an opener, Head 123 off just 83 balls (16 fours, 4 sixes) before being dismissed on the long boundary, receiving a standing ovation and hugs from his opponents. The innings transformed a precarious position for Australia into complete dominance, leaving England flabbergasted on a seamer-friendly green pitch.
Partnerships
On a stunning second day at Perth Stadium during the 2025-26 Ashes opener, Travis Head blasted a spectacular 123 runs from 83 balls; Head’s 10th Test hundred and the 2nd fastest in Ashes history. Australia decimated England to claim victory in under two days by 8 wickets and now lead 1-0 in the series. Head was promoted to opening the bat after Usman Khawaja was ruled out due to injury and immediately went to work against Ben Stokes, hitting four boundaries in an over. He also managed to get on top of the short balls from Mark Wood, bringing up his century. His explosive 74-run partnership from 48 balls with Jake Weatherald had ignited the chase of a target of 205, while a resolute 117-run partnership from 92 balls alongside Marnus Labuschagne eventually sealed what seemed near impossible.
Travis Head Scoring Areas
Head played the whole ground like it was his own personal hitting arc. He plundered Mid-wicket and square-leg with explosive pulls and whips (at least eight boundaries came aerial or along the carpet in that 120-degree zone).
Extra-cover and cover with flamingo-like lofted drives and crisp punches whenever the bowlers overpitched.
Third man and fine with stylish ramps and upper-cuts (including an astonishing six over slips off Brydon Carse and another flat six straight of Jofra Archer).
Deep backward point with savage cuts and carved drives when the pacers dropped short and wide.
His wagon wheel was nearly perfectly symmetrical; only long-off and long-on were quiet because he rarely hoicked it in the air down the ground unless it had already gone for six. In 83 balls he found the boundary 20 times (16 fours + 4 sixes = 88 runs in boundaries alone), statistically unthinkable on a pitch that played with sharp bounce and lateral movement early on.
Travis Head Vs English Bowler’s
Jofra Archer began with genuine fire and hostility, beating Head’s edge twice in the first over and reaching speeds of 142 kph every other delivery but always ended leaking when he bowled full or missed his line. Mark Wood bowled in the high-140s and extracted devilish bounce, but Head’s premeditated shuffles and pick-up pulls were turning even throat balls of 145 kph into run scoring opportunities.
Gus Atkinson was the best of the quicks with raw pace and clever slower balls but still managed to give up four boundaries an over when Head decided to launch. Brydon Carse bowled tightly but regularly launched for three sixes and multiple fours once Head got himself in. Even Ben Stokes, was introduced as a breather spell after Archer’s initial over, was hammered for 17 in that over including three boundaries. England’s vaunted all-pace attack simply had no plan B once Head had taken the guard on 45.
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