A ruthless performance from Mitchell Starc and a breathtaking 123 from Travis Head hand Australia a sensational 1-0 lead in just 2 day,
Cricket fans witnessed one of the most dramatic and shortest Ashes Test matches ever, as Australia defeated England by 8 wickets at the Perth Stadium, sealing the win inside just two days. This match will be remembered for Mitchell Starc’s fiery spell, Travis Head’s explosive century, and one of the fastest successful 200+ run chases in Test history.
England entered the second day ahead by 40 runs, but once Australia found momentum, the match turned on its head. By the afternoon session, the hosts took complete control and wrapped up a remarkable victory.
1st Test Match Summary Table
| Innings | Score |
|---|---|
| England 1st Innings | 172 |
| Australia 1st Innings | 132 |
| England 2nd Innings | 164 |
| Australia 2nd Innings | 205/2 |
| Result | Australia won by 8 wickets |
1st Innings: Starc’s 7-for Demolishes England
England won the toss and chose to bat, but their decision backfired quickly as Mitchell Starc produced one of the greatest spells of his Test career, finishing with 7/58.
Key highlights:
| England Batter | Runs |
|---|---|
| Harry Brook | 52 |
| Ollie Pope | 46 |
| Jamie Smith | 33 |
England folded for 172, with only a few batters putting up resistance. Starc’s late swing and pace were too much to handle on a spicy wicket.
Australia Collapse Too – Ben Stokes Strikes Back
Australia’s reply was equally shaky. England captain Ben Stokes bowled a sensational spell of 5/23, breaking through the middle order and pulling the match back in England’s favour.
Australia were bowled out for 132, giving England a 40-run lead.
Important contributions:
| Australia Batter | Runs |
|---|---|
| Alex Carey | 26 |
| Cameron Green | 24 |
| Travis Head | 21 |
England ended Day 1 as the stronger side, but everything changed on Day 2.
England’s Second Innings: Another Collapse
England looked to extend their lead, but Australia’s bowlers—especially Starc, Doggett and Boland—kept hitting the right areas. Wickets fell rapidly.
England’s 2nd innings: 164 all out
Top performances for Australia:
| Bowler | Figures |
|---|---|
| Scott Boland | 4/33 |
| Mitchell Starc | 3/55 |
| Brendan Doggett | 3/51 |
Despite late counter-attacking efforts from Gus Atkinson (37) and Brydon Carse (20), England managed only a 204-run target for Australia.
Australia’s Fearless Chase Led by Travis Head
Australia approached the chase with confidence and aggression. Due to Usman Khawaja’s niggle, Travis Head opened the innings and delivered one of the greatest Ashes knocks ever.
Travis Head smashed 123 off just 83 balls, reaching his hundred off only 69 deliveries.
He dominated England’s bowlers with fearless stroke play, handling the short ball with ease and scoring freely across the ground.
Australia chased down 205 in only 28.2 overs — the fastest-ever 200+ chase in Test history.
Highest Run Rate in a Successful 200+ Test Chase:
| Team | RPO | Opposition | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 7.23 | England | Perth | 2025 |
| England | 5.98 | New Zealand | Nottingham | 2022 |
| England | 5.77 | South Africa | The Oval | 1994 |
Key contributions in the chase:
| Batter | Runs (Balls) |
|---|---|
| Travis Head | 123 (83) |
| Marnus Labuschagne | 51 (49)* |
| Jake Weatherald | 23 (34) |
Australia reached 205/2, sealing victory in a dominant fashion.
Mitchell Starc Named Player of the Match
Starc’s match figures: 7/58 & 3/55 = 10 wickets in the match
He was the heart of Australia’s bowling attack and controlled the match from the first over.
Starc said he felt calm despite missing his usual partners Hazlewood and Cummins, praising Boland and debutant Doggett for stepping up.
What the Captains Said
Steve Smith (Australia Captain)
- Called Travis Head’s knock “out of this world”
- Praised Starc’s leadership with the ball
- Said the team showed “unbelievable fight”
Ben Stokes (England Captain)
- Admitted the team was “shell-shocked”
- Said Head’s innings “knocked the wind out of us”
- Stressed the need to regroup before Brisbane
Travis Head’s Century: One for the Ages
Head’s 123 is now the highest strike rate century ever while chasing in Tests:
| Player | SR | Opposition | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travis Head | 148.19 | England | Perth | 2025 |
| Jonny Bairstow | 147.82 | NZ | Nottingham | 2022 |
| Nathan Astle | 132.14 | England | Christchurch | 2002 |
His innings completely changed the match and set the tone for the Ashes series.
Read more: Steven Smith Captaincy Record
Final Thoughts
This Test will go down as one of the most dramatic two-day Ashes Tests ever. From 19 wickets on Day 1 to a record-breaking chase on Day 2, the match had everything—pace, drama, collapse, and brilliance.
Australia now lead the Ashes 2025-26 series 1-0, and the next Test in Brisbane promises even more intensity.
