'Beyond outrageous': Travis Head's whirlwind 69-ball century helps Australia hammer England inside two days in Perth

Records tumbled at the Perth Stadium as Travis Head smashed a 69-ball century to setup a commanding victory for Australia over England in the opening game of the 2025-2026 Ashes on Saturday. Head, who filled in for the injured Usman Khawaja as opener , struck 123 off 83 deliveries in a whirlwind innings that contained 16 fours and four sixes as Australia chased the 205-run target set by their ‘Old Enemy’ with utmost ease.

In the process, Head not only struck the second fastest century in 143 years of the iconic Ashes rivalry, he also smashed the joint-fastest ton by an opener as well as the quickest century in the fourth innings in the Test format. Head had earlier completed his half-century in 36 deliveries, which is the joint-third-fastest in Ashes history in terms of balls faced.

Here’s how former and current cricketers as well as fans reacted to Head’s knock on social media:

Head decimates England after filling in for Khawaja as opener

Australia thus went 1-0 up in the marquee five-match series after winning the dramatic series opener inside two days. The hosts had been bowled out for 132 on a topsy-turvy second day, conceding a 40-run first innings lead, but boosted their hopes of starting the Ashes on a winning note after bowling England out for 164 later on Saturday.

Head, however, gave England a taste of their own ‘Bazball’ medicine with a knock for the ages to ensure the Australian batting order did not crumble the way they did on Friday, when they were reduced to 123/9 in response to England’s first innings total of 172.

After collecting just three runs in his first 14 deliveries, Head shifted gears in style with a boundary off pacer Gus Atkinson that was followed by a six and a four in Brydon Carse’s first over of the innings. Express pacer Mark Wood wasn’t spared either, getting smashed for a six and a four in successive deliveries, with the opening partnership with Jake Weatherald moved into the 70s.

The party continued even after Weatherald, who had been dismissed for a two-ball duck by Jofra Archer on Friday, departed for 23, with Australian No 3 Marnus Labuschagne providing the perfect foil to Head’s slam-bang approach.

Head and Labuschagne 117 for the second wicket in a little over 15 overs before the former was dismissed after holing out to Ollie Pope at deep midwicket off Carse’s bowling with the finish line very much in sight.

Thanks to his blazing ton, Australia, chased the target 200-plus target down in just 28.2 overs at a run-rate above 7 – an approach that has been the hallmark of England’s batting approach under captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum.