PERTH: A devastating Australian performance, highlighted by a record-breaking century from makeshift opener Travis Head, inflicted a humiliating eight-wicket defeat on England in the opening Ashes Test, with the match at Perth Stadium concluding inside a mere two days.

Set a challenging target of 205, the contest was transformed into an astonishingly one-sided chase by Head. Stepping in for the injured Usman Khawaja, Head blazed an 83-ball 123, racing to his century in just 69 deliveries—the second-fastest Ashes century in history.

His ruthless, ‘Bazball’-beating aggression shattered England’s bowling attack and sealed the victory before the end of Saturday’s play.

The chase was set up by a catastrophic middle-order collapse from England earlier in the day. Resuming with a narrow 40-run lead, they reached 65 for 1 before the Australian pace duo of Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland tore through the line-up. Starc, who finished with a 10-wicket match haul, removed key figures Joe Root and Ben Stokes in a devastating spell. England lost five wickets for just 23 runs, folding for 164 and setting a target that quickly proved inadequate.

Captain Ben Stokes admitted the team was “a little bit shell-shocked.” Former England skipper Nasser Hussain was scathing, remarking, “This is a defeat they’re going to find very difficult to come back from.” Australia takes a dominant 1-0 lead, leaving England with deep introspection before the day-night second Test in Brisbane.

###