Travis Head tore aside England’s assault and halted the Bazball momentum as he smashed a 36-ball fifty within the last innings of the primary Ashes Take a look at, earlier than reaching a report 69-ball century on Saturday.

Travis Head tore aside England’s assault and halted the Bazball momentum as he smashed a 36-ball fifty within the last innings of the primary Ashes Take a look at, earlier than reaching a report 69-ball century on Saturday, November 22. He was requested to open on the final second as a result of Usman Khawaja wasn’t absolutely match, and Australia couldn’t have hoped for a greater outcome. After safely enjoying out the primary over, Head shifted gears and saved attacking with out slowing down.

Travis Head hit one of many quickest fifties in Ashes historical past, matching Kevin Pietersen for the joint-fourth quickest, whereas England’s Jack Brown nonetheless holds the report with a 34-ball half-century. Though he misplaced opening companion Jake Weatherald early, Marnus Labuschagne joined him on the crease and likewise regarded keen to attain. That’s when Head shifted into full attacking mode.

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100 off simply 69 balls! Travis Head, what an innings! #Ashes | #MilestoneMoment | @nrmainsurance pic.twitter.com/oiV1QEneYp

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 22, 2025

Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes all confronted the identical outcome — none may cease Head, who went on to attain a 69-ball century. It grew to become the joint-third quickest Take a look at hundred by an Australian and the second-fastest in Ashes historical past. His 69-ball ton was additionally the quickest ever in a fourth innings and the joint-fastest by an opener, leaving England surprised.

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Head additionally broke Jonny Bairstow’s World Take a look at Championship (WTC) report for the quickest century, beating it by eight balls. Australia cruised via the 205-run chase, and Head reached 4,000 Take a look at runs throughout the innings.

Quickest Take a look at centuries for Australia (balls confronted):

57 – Adam Gilchrist vs England, Perth 2006
67 – Jack Gregory vs South Africa, Johannesburg 1921
69 – David Warner vs India, Perth 2012
69 – Travis Head vs England, Perth 2025

Quickest WTC centuries (balls confronted):

69 – Travis Head (Australia) vs England, Perth 2025
77 – Jonny Bairstow (England) vs New Zealand, Nottingham 2022
80 – Harry Brook (England) vs Pakistan, Rawalpindi 2022
80 – Jamie Smith (England) vs India, Birmingham 2025

The sport fully shifted within the second session, when England collapsed from 65/1 to 88/6, shedding 5 wickets for simply 23 runs, as Scott Boland and Mitchell Starc tore via their batting order. England wanted to outlive that session and rebuild later, but it surely by no means occurred. Australia wrapped up the chase in solely 28.2 overs, taking a 1-0 lead within the collection.