Travis Head smashes second-fastest century in Ashes history

PERTH: Travis Head delivered a record-smashing performance on Saturday, firing a rapid 69-ball century to put Australia on the brink of a thrilling first Ashes Test win against England at Optus Stadium.

Tasked with opening alongside debutant Jake Weatherald due to Usman Khawaja struggling with an injury, Head seized control on a challenging pitch, turning the chase of 205 into a one-sided affair.

Head’s explosive innings featured 12 fours and four sixes, bringing up his century with a single when Australia was at 146.

The knock marked the second-fastest century in Ashes history, surpassing Gilbert Jessop’s 76-ball effort for England back in 1902, and also eclipsed Head’s previous fastest Test ton of 85 balls.

Fastest Hundreds (by balls taken) in Ashes Tests

• 59 – Adam Gilchrist (AUS), Perth 2006
• 69 – Travis Head (AUS), Perth Today
• 78 – Gilbert Jessop (ENG), The Oval 1902
• 85 – Joe Darling (AUS), Sydney 1898
• 85 – Travis Head (AUS), Brisbane 2021

It ranks as the joint-third fastest century by an Australian in Tests, tying David Warner’s 69-ball effort against India in Perth in 2012. Only Adam Gilchrist’s 57-ball hundred in 2006 and Jack Gregory’s 67-ball century in 1921 remain quicker.

Fastest Hundreds for Australia (by balls taken) in Tests:

• 59 – Adam Gilchrist v ENG, Perth 2006
• 67 – Jack Gregory v SA, Johannesburg 1921
• 69 – David Warner v IND, Perth 2012
• 69 – Travis Head v ENG, Perth Today
• 78 – David Warner v PAK, Sydney 2017

Head, however, fell prey to Brydon Carse when Australia needed 13 more runs to win the game. He went back to the pavillion after scoring 123 runs from 83 balls, laced with 16 fours and four sixes.

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Earlier, Australia’s pace duo of Scott Boland and Mitchell Starc ripped through England’s top order, setting the stage for Head’s heroics.

England, cruising at 65-1 in their second innings, collapsed to 88-6 after lunch, with Boland taking out Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, and Harry Brook in a devastating spell of 11 balls.

Starc struck twice in quick succession, dismissing Joe Root and Ben Stokes, completing his 10-wicket haul for only the third time in his career, following his first-innings 7-58.

A brief 50-run stand between Gus Atkinson (37) and Brydon Carse (20) offered some resistance before England were bowled out for 164 on the cusp of tea.

Boland finished with 4-33 while Starc claimed 3-55, leaving Australia well-positioned to chase down the target.

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