Travis Head’s Savage Century and Starc’s 10-Wicket Haul Complete Two-Day Humiliation of English cricket team
Sports report /News Agreggator /Images AAP
Sydney 24 November,2025
PERTH, WA — The opening Test of the 2025/26 Ashes series concluded in sensational and historic fashion this past weekend, with Australia claiming an eight-wicket victory over England at Optus Stadium. The match, which lasted only two days—the shortest Ashes Test since 1921—was a low-scoring thriller utterly dominated by fast bowling and one moment of breathtaking counter-attack.
🏏 Full Scorecard Overview
| Innings | Team | Score (Overs) | Key Batter/Bowler |
| 1st Innings | England | 172 all out (32.5) | Mitchell Starc (7/58) |
| 1st Innings | Australia | 132 all out (39.0) | Ben Stokes (5/23) |
| 2nd Innings | England | 164 all out (34.4) | Scott Boland (4/33) |
| 2nd Innings | Australia | 2-205 (28.2) | Travis Head (123 off 83) |
| Result: Australia won by 8 wickets. | Player of the Match: Mitchell Starc |
Day 1: The Bowling Massacre
The tone for the frantic pace was set on Day One, which saw 19 wickets fall on a pitch offering extreme pace and bounce.
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England’s First Collapse: After winning the toss and electing to bat, England were skittled for just 172 in 32.5 overs. The primary destructor was Mitchell Starc, who delivered a career-best seven-wicket haul in the Ashes, finishing with figures of 7/58. Only Ollie Pope (46) and Harry Brook (52) provided meaningful resistance.
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Australia’s Struggle: Australia fared little better. While Marnus Labuschagne (51) anchored the innings, a devastating spell from England captain Ben Stokes (5/23 in 6 overs) saw the hosts collapse for 132, handing England a crucial 40-run first-innings lead at Stumps on Day One.
Day 2: The Decisive Collapse and Head’s Inferno
The game was won and lost in a fiery two-session burst on Saturday.
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England’s Middle-Order Meltdown: England looked comfortable at 65/1 in their second innings, extending their lead past 100 runs. However, the afternoon session brought utter chaos. Scott Boland, bowling with relentless accuracy, ripped through the middle order, dismissing Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, and Harry Brook in quick succession. Starc returned to dismiss Joe Root and Ben Stokes, completing a historic 10-wicket match haul (10/113)—the first by an Australian fast bowler in the Ashes at home since 1991. England were eventually dismissed for 164, setting Australia a target of 205 to win.
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Travis Head’s Blistering Chase: With opener Usman Khawaja nursing a back spasm, Travis Head was promoted to open the innings, and his response was nothing short of legendary. Attacking from the first ball, he:
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Smashed his fifty in just 36 balls.
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Brought up his century in an astonishing 69 balls, making it the second-fastest Ashes century ever, only behind Adam Gilchrist’s 57-ball effort in 2006.
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His final score of 123 off 83 balls—including 16 fours and 4 sixes—single-handedly vaporised the target.
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Head and Marnus Labuschagne (unbeaten on 51) put on a 117-run partnership in fewer than 15 overs, steering Australia to a dominant victory in just 28.2 overs and giving England a taste of their own “Bazball” medicine.
