Perth, November 22, 2025: Travis Head’s explosive fourth-innings century and Mitchell Starc’s brilliant 10-wicket match haul propelled Australia to a dominant eight-wicket victory over England inside two days in the opening Ashes Test at Optus Stadium on Saturday.
The match, already rocked by 19 wickets on the opening day, resumed with Australia at 123/9 in their first innings. Nathan Lyon and Brendan Doggett managed to add only nine runs before the hosts were dismissed for 132 in response to England’s 172.
England captain Ben Stokes spearheaded the tourists’ bowling effort with a five-wicket haul, while Brydon Carse claimed three wickets and Jofra Archer picked up two.
With a 40-run lead, England struggled again in their second innings, folding for 164 in just 34.4 overs and setting Australia a modest target of 205. No. 8 batter Gus Atkinson top-scored with a brisk 37 off 32 balls, while Ollie Pope contributed 33.
Scott Boland led Australia’s attack in the second innings with figures of 4 for 33 in 11.4 overs. Starc and Doggett supported him with three wickets each. Starc’s three second-innings strikes lifted his match tally to a superb 10 for 113, earning him the Player of the Match award.
Faced with a challenging chase on a bowler-friendly pitch, Australia found their hero in Travis Head. The left-handed opener smashed a 69-ball century—ultimately scoring a blistering 123 off 83 balls featuring 16 fours and four sixes—to turn the match decisively in Australia’s favour.
Head put on important stands with Jake Weatherald (23) and Marnus Labuschagne, the latter remaining unbeaten on a rapid 51 off 49 deliveries to steer Australia home.
Carse was England’s lone wicket-taker in the final innings, finishing with 2 for 44 from 5.2 overs.
Australia now head into the second Test with a 1–0 Ashes lead after one of the shortest completed Tests in the rivalry’s storied history.
