Blistering Travis Head ton gives Australia a stunning 1-0 lead

The Travis Head show took centerstage in Perth, the southpaw smashing 123 off 83 deliveries as Australia chased down 205 in just 28.2 overs in the fourth innings to go 1-0 up in The Ashes. Marnus Labuschagne too scored 51* and put on a 117-run stand off just 92 balls with Head in a stunning run chase. Mitchell Starc ended the match with figures of 10 for 111, his third ten-wicket haul in a match as Australia condemned England to a crushing defeat. It is the first Ashes Test to finish in two days since 1921.

Australia had a different opening combination in the fourth innings with Travis Head and Jake Weatherald after Usman Khawaja couldn't open due to a back spasm. Head scored the first runs for the opening partnership in the Test and the duo saw off the initial bursts from Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson. Head smashed 16 fours and 4 sixes in his innings. He was attacked with the short balls from the very beginning but he pulled out the flat batted shots to perfection, turning to pulls, swipes, ramps and short-arm jabs. England didn't know what hit them having been bowled off their lengths, with Head even hitting four boundaries off Ben Stokes. Having taken just 69 balls for his ton, Head walked off to a standing ovation after holing out to mid-wicket.

Head was well accompanied by Jake Weatherald for the first wicket. The latter, who was on a pair, got his first Test runs with a three through square-leg with the duo putting on a 75-run opening stand before poking one in the air. All the English seamers was punished for being short of length with Head guiding the ball through the gaps while Labuschagne held up one end when Head was going berserk before hitting a four and six towards the end which also brought up his 50.

Earlier, Australia, who were nine down on 123, added only nine runs to their overnight tally with Brydon Carse needing only two balls in his spell to nick off Nathan Lyon. During the innings, Lyon was struck on the back thigh by Mark Wood which made him sit out for the early part of England's second innings.

Zak Crawley was then dismissed for a pair as Starc took a stunning catch off his own bowling. Having lost a quick wicket, Ollie Pope and Ben Duckett were determined not to let the Australians make further inroads. They did play positively, hitting the balls into the gaps and ran the twos and threes regularly. Brendan Doggett lacked control in this innings and Pope duly accepted any width offered to him. The Australians were also sloppy in the field giving five overthrows.

Through this period, Scott Boland began to hit the right lengths unlike Day 1 and bowled his first maiden after 15 overs in the Test. On the stroke of Lunch, Duckett was first hit on the elbow by Boland and was given LBW out off the subsequent delivery. But DRS saved the left-hander as the ball was pitching outside leg.

After Lunch, Pope stood tall and square cut Cameron Green to the fence as the lead moved into the sixties. Boland then kickstarted England's slide when he struck with his second ball after the break as Duckett nicked off to Steve Smith at second slip, his 50th Test wicket at home. Boland nicked off Pope in his following over as the 36-year-old fast-bowler had his tail up. Three balls later, Harry Brook went chasing after a ball on fifth stump for an expansive drive but was caught at first slip for a duck. Australia were right back in the contest as Joe Root chopped one off Starc, as England collapsed from 65 for 1 to 76 for 5. Jamie Smith survived three balls later after Khawaja spilled one at first-slip much to Starc's dismay.

Starc picked up his 10th of the match as Ben Stokes nicked off as England tumbled to 88 for 6 and continued to stare down the barrel. Jamie Smith was then given caught-behind down the legside after Australia reviewed but RTS showed a murmur after the ball passed the bat much to the dismay and disagreement of the English fans. The review took around four minutes before TV umpire Kumar Dharmasena made the decision. Australia then attempted to bounce out the tail but Carse hit a couple of sixes. Atkinson did the same as he hooked Starc over fine-leg and square-leg for sixes as the duo brought up the 50-run stand.

Doggett got rid of Carse who tried to ramp but only gloved it to Carey. Archer took the lead past 200 with a four before holing out to Steve Smith while Boland ended the innings with Atkinson holing out to fine-leg as Australia needed 205 to chase which they stunningly did.

Brief Scores: England 172 (Harry Brook 52; Mitchell Starc 7-58) & 164 (Gus Atkinson 37; Scott Boland 4-33) lost to Australia 132 (Alex Carey 26; Ben Stokes 5-23) & 205/2 (Travis Head 123; Brydon Carse 2-44) by eight wickets