Australia have humbled England in a record-breaking Ashes Test in Perth, winning by eight wickets inside two days – the first time in 104 years an Ashes Test has finished in such quick time. Travis Head smashed a breathtaking 69-ball century, the fastest in Ashes history, as Australia chased down a target of 205 with ease in 28.2 overs.
England had earlier collapsed from 59 for one at lunch to 164 all out, losing five wickets for 23 runs in 40 minutes. Mitchell Starc finished with a 10-wicket match haul, while Scott Boland took four for 33. The tourists' aggressive batting approach backfired on a bouncy Perth pitch, with senior players like Joe Root and Harry Brook falling to reckless shots.
Head, promoted to open after Usman Khawaja's back spasm, tore into the England bowling attack, hitting 16 fours and four sixes in his innings of 123 from 83 balls. He was ably supported by Marnus Labuschagne, who raced to an unbeaten half-century. The win gives Australia a 1-0 lead in the series and delivers a psychological blow to England's 'Bazball' style.
England's lower order provided some resistance, with Gus Atkinson making 37 and Brydon Carse 20, but the target proved insufficient. The defeat leaves England facing questions about their aggressive approach, as their collapse mirrored fears about the downside of their high-risk strategy.
