Australia made a perfect start to the Ashes 2025-26 series by defeating England by 8 wickets in the first Test at Perth Optus Stadium. The match lasted only two days, but it delivered high drama, fast-paced cricket, and several historic performances—especially from Travis Head and Mitchell Starc.
Travis Head Turns the Match on Its Head
Chasing 205 runs, Australia needed someone to take control on a tricky pitch where wickets had fallen quickly throughout the match. That hero was Travis Head.
Head, opening the innings in a home Test for the first time, played one of the most destructive innings in Ashes history. He smashed:
- 123 runs from just 83 balls
- 16 fours and 4 sixes
Head reached his century in only 69 balls, making it:
- The second-fastest century in Ashes history
- The fastest fourth-innings century ever in Test cricket
- One of the top four fastest Test centuries for Australia
His attacking approach broke England’s confidence and changed the match completely. What seemed like a difficult chase turned into an easy win.
England Lose a Match They Could Have Won
England had posted 172 runs in the first innings and bowled well to dismiss Australia for 132, gaining a 40-run lead. With another 164 runs in the second innings, England set a competitive target of 205, considering the pitch conditions.
However, England’s bowlers struggled badly in the final innings. Their short-pitched bowling and inconsistent lengths allowed Head and Marnus Labuschagne (51*) to dominate. Australia reached the target in only 28.2 overs, playing almost at T20 scoring rate.
England went from being in control to losing the Test within a single session—an unexpected collapse for Ben Stokes side.
Mitchell Starc Creates History With 10 Wickets
While Head stole the spotlight with the bat, Mitchell Starc delivered a historic performance with the ball:
Starc’s Match Figures
- 7 wickets in the first innings
- 3 wickets in the second innings
- 10 wickets in the match
Also see: Mitchell Starc Creates Ashes History: Becomes Third Bowler to Complete 200 WTC Wickets
With this, Starc achieved several huge milestones:
- Became the first Australian fast bowler in 35 years to take a 10-wicket haul in an Ashes Test.
- Became only the third left-arm fast bowler ever in Ashes history to claim 10 wickets in a match.
- Completed 200 wickets in the World Test Championship, making him the third bowler to achieve this landmark after Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins.
Starc’s early strikes in both innings pushed England on the back foot, and his pace and swing proved too much for their top order.
With this comprehensive victory, Australia now lead the Ashes 2025-26 series 1–0. The team will enter the next Test full of confidence, while England will need a quick turnaround to stay competitive. Travis Head’s fearless batting and Mitchell Starc’s world-class bowling are clear signals—Australia are ready to dominate this Ashes series.
