The Ashes 2025 first test, day two as it happened: Head replaces injured Khawaja, belts amazing ton as Australia dominate England in two days

Travis Head has plundered a stunning 69-ball century in a session to steer Australia to a famous eight-wicket win in Perth after England’s batters faltered for a second time in match that will live long in the memory.

Australia will take a 1-0 series lead into the second Test in Brisbane after reaching 2-205 in just 28.2 overs to record an emphatic victory inside two days that lands a hammer blow on England’s hopes of regaining the Ashes.

For a player with just 167 runs across all formats of cricket during the past three months, this was a return to form of epic proportions and an innings that will go down as one of the greatest Ashes performances in history.

Off the back of a 10-wicket haul from player of the match Mitchell Starc, “Travball” decimated “Bazball” on an exhilarating afternoon of cricket as the dominant left-hander powered Australia towards their target of 205, belting 123 from 83 balls in front of 49,983 awe-struck spectators.

It was the equal sixth-quickest century in Test history and equal third fastest by an Australian, in terms of balls faced, since Adam Gilchrist’s magnificent 57-ball ton in 2006 and David Warner’s 69-ball effort in Perth in 2011.

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Well, thanks for following along today. What a stunning day it was, capped by an eight-wicket win for Australia inside two days.

Let’s hope England can rally from here, as we all (well, some of us) want a long, competitive series.

The campaign now shifts to the pink-ball Test in Brisbane from December 4. In the meantime, England have much to think about.

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Travis Head has plundered a stunning 69-ball century in a session to steer Australia to a famous eight-wicket win in Perth after England’s batters faltered for a second time in match that will live long in the memory.

Australia will take a 1-0 series lead into the second Test in Brisbane after reaching 2-205 in just 28.2 overs to record an emphatic victory inside two days that lands a hammer blow on England’s hopes of regaining the Ashes.

For a player with just 167 runs across all formats of cricket during the past three months, this was a return to form of epic proportions and an innings that will go down as one of the greatest Ashes performances in history.

Off the back of a 10-wicket haul from player of the match Mitchell Starc, “Travball” decimated “Bazball” on an exhilarating afternoon of cricket as the dominant left-hander powered Australia towards their target of 205, belting 123 from 83 balls in front of 49,983 awe-struck spectators.

It was the equal sixth-quickest century in Test history and equal third fastest by an Australian, in terms of balls faced, since Adam Gilchrist’s magnificent 57-ball ton in 2006 and David Warner’s 69-ball effort in Perth in 2011.

For more, click here

England captain Ben Stokes says he is a “little bit shell-shocked” after losing the first Test inside two days.

“It’s quite raw and fresh at the moment,” he said.

Stokes said Travis Head’s ton was “pretty phenomenal”, and urged his own men to “try and occupy the crease for a long time” come the next Test in Brisbane.