Travis Head played one of the greatest Ashes innings. Scratch that.
He played one of the greatest knocks in the history of Test cricket, delivering the first blow to England in the opening Test at the Optus Stadium in Perth – a match that surprisingly ended in two days. The 2023 World Cup hero’s 83-ball 123 crushed England’s spirits, broke the hearts of their staunchest supporters and left former players “bloody disappointed” on Saturday.
Ashes 1st Test, Day 2 Highlights | Scorecard
The first Test lasted just 100.5 overs but offered enough drama for the full five days. From Mitchell Starc’s seven-wicket haul to Ben Stokes’ five, the bowlers dominated the first day. Still, the Travis Head special will be remembered a hundred years from now.
“A bit shocked. That was some knock from Trav,” said losing captain Ben Stokes, echoing the sentiments of millions tuning in for the much-anticipated Ashes opener.
“It’s very difficult to get a series going,” he added, as England’s 13-year wait for a Test victory on Australian soil extended further. For a fleeting moment, Stokes and England might believe they are on the verge of ending this drought. But Head had other ideas.
It was the seventh Ashes Test ever to be completed over two days and the shortest match in the sport’s history to produce a result in terms of balls bowled.
EXTRAORDINARY HEAD SPECIAL
On a surface that looked like a batsman’s graveyard – with 30 wickets taken in the first five sessions – England had the upper hand after bowling out Australia for 205. Bazball, their ultra-aggressive approach, looked set to deliver a rare series-opening win in Australia, especially as the pitch remained unpredictable and the fast bowlers rioted.
England failed to build a 30-run lead, similar to the previous year, India were bowled out for 164, although the batting conditions improved. Still, with 205 runs to defend and a battery of express quicks who rocked Australia in the first innings, they entered the field believing they could deliver the killing blow.
But when they tried to crush Australia again, the script was reversed. Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson didn’t immediately face an aging Usman Khawaja or a debutant in Jake Weatherald – instead they ran straight into Travis Head at full throttle.
They call it Travball, right? And it turned out spicier than Bazball.
Head turned into a play and created a story that might have seemed unlikely even on the Broadway stage. He neutralized the pitch, blunted England’s speed of expression and shrugged off the pressure of expectation.
With Khawaja struggling for fitness, Head was asked to open for the first time in an Ashes Test – and delivered a stinging blow that may haunt England for the rest of the series.
The Ashes opener in Perth ended before the completion of six sessions. After 19 wickets fell on Day 1 and 30 before tea on Day 2, few expected the match to stretch past Sunday lunch. Then Travis Head took over.
He smashed 16 boundaries and two sixes to help Australia chase 205 in a single session. Head was not in the crease when the winning runs were struck but walked off to a standing ovation from the Optus Stadium crowd. Even the Burma Army – notoriously boisterous supporters of England’s travel – rose to applaud him.
England players, including captain Stokes, made their way to the Head to acknowledge a knock that will be remembered for ages.
– The end
Issued by:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
November 22, 2025
