Travis Head’s blistering fourth-innings hundred helped Australia complete a rapid chase against England in the Ashes 2025-26 opener in Perth.
Chasing 205, Australia’s reply was driven by Travis Head, who smashed a 69-ball hundred before finishing on 123 off 83 deliveries, hitting 16 fours and four sixes. The hosts hunted down the target in just 28.2 overs with eight wickets in hand. Their run rate of 7.23 was the highest ever in a 200-plus fourth-innings chase in Tests, surpassing England’s 5.98 against New Zealand in 2022.
Australia’s victory was hard-earned as England secured a 40-run first-innings lead despite the home side bowling out the opposition for 172 in the first innings. Scott Boland’s four-wicket burst in the second swung momentum back Australia’s way, dismissing England for 164. Mitchell Starc, who claimed a career-best 7-58 in the first innings, added 3-55 in the second, while debutant Brendan Doggett chipped in with 3-51.
1st Test, Australia vs England
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Head’s 69-ball hundred is now the joint-third fastest by an Australian, equalling David Warner’s effort at the same venue in 2011/12. It also ranks joint-fifth on the all-time list; Shivnarine Chanderpaul is the other batter with a 69-ball century (v Australia in 2002/03).
Only Jack Gregory (67 balls v South Africa, 1921/22) and Adam Gilchrist (57 balls v England, 2006/07) have scored quicker Test hundreds for Australia. The fastest hundred in Test history remains Brendon McCullum’s 54-ball blitz in his farewell Test against Australia in Christchurch in 2015/16.
Fastest hundreds in men's Tests, full list
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