Travis Head's 69-ball ton secures remarkable two-day win for Australia
England went from a position of strength to a calamitous eight-wicket defeat on day two
21/11Result
1st Test, England tour of Australia at Perth, Nov 21-22 2025
-
![England]( "England")
172 & 164 -
![Australia]( "Australia")
132 & 205/2 (28.2 ov)
Player of the Match
21/11Result
1st Test, England tour of Australia at Perth, Nov 21-22 2025
-
![England]( "England")
172 & 164 -
![Australia]( "Australia")
132 & 205/2 (28.2 ov)
Player of the Match
Day 2
Day 1
Australia on the ropes after frenetic 19-wicket opening day
Mitchell Starc ripped through England with a seven-wicket haul but England hit right back thanks to Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse and Ben Stokes
Others
Khawaja confident of Gabba fitness but slams Perth pitch
Said the day one pitch, on which 19 wickets fell on the opening day of the Ashes, was "s***"
Food charities benefit from Perth Test catering surplus
Biggest donation ever made in Western Australia following two-day finish at Optus Stadium
Have England ever been bowled out twice more quickly than they were in Perth?
And has anyone else made a fourth-innings hundred on the second day of a Test as Travis Head did?
England need to shut out the noise and look in the mirror
The technical flaws of their top order were in evidence in Perth. It's not too late for them to do something about them
Khawaja's back issues to be examined as Australia float flexible batting order
CA's medical staff will look into Khawaja's back spasm and the coach says the batting order will be discussed leading into the Brisbane Test after Head's heroics
Switch Hit: Travball 1-0 Bazball
After England's dramatic two-day capitulation to start the 2025-26 Ashes, Alan Gardner hears from Vish Ehantharajah and Alex Malcolm about what went down in Perth
McCullum backs Crawley; calls on England to show greater 'conviction'
England head coach defends opener despite pair as methods come under scrutiny
Flattened by Archer, lifted by Head: Weatherald's wild Test debut
A two-ball duck, a few nervous moments, a rapid opening stand with Head in the chase were all part of Weatherald's Test debut
From Ahmedabad to Perth, Head's greatest hits: which was the best?
Australia's stand-in opener left many wondering what they had witnessed
How Boland sparked another Ashes nightmare for England
He had gone for more than a run-a-ball in the first innings but found his length second time around
Two-day Test could cost Cricket Australia millions
CA had earmarked the Ashes to help balance the budget but if short Tests become the theme it may prove difficult
A generational flaying takes its place in England's Ashes lore
It's the hope that kills England, as crushing comedown leaves their bid for immortality on the rocks
Stats - Perth serves up a short and spicy Test
The first Ashes Test ended in two days, with Travis Head and Mitchell Starc achieving significant landmarks
Smith stalls talk on Head's permanent role as Ashes opener
Stand-in captain backs Khawaja to bounce back from back spasm; hopeful of Cummins return at Brisbane
McCullum backs England's team ethic to bounce back from chastening loss
Head coach says Ashes is 'marathon, not sprint' after crushing collapse inside two days at Perth
Hazlewood out of Ashes opener with hamstring injury
Michael Neser has been added to the squad, and Brendan Doggett could be closing in on a Test debut in Perth
Head: 'It's not going to get much bigger than this'
Moved up to open for Australia's chase, the left hander produced one of the more remarkable innings in Test history
'Shellshocked' Stokes hails Head for 'knocking the wind' out of England
England captain says England will lick their wounds and try to come back stronger at Brisbane
Head adds to career catalogue of mind-blowing knocks on the biggest stage
His astonishing assault in a low-scoring Ashes Test proved he never ceases to amaze
Smith given out after Real Time Snicko confusion; 'correct decision,' says Taufel
Jamie Smith started to walk off when he saw a murmur on graphic on the big screen, but stopped after the footage was slowed down, showing the spike appearing after the ball had passed the bat
Bazball's last stand: build your own Ashes fantasy adventure
Will it be another Adelaide waking nightmare? Crushed 4-1 beneath the wheel? Or the full Bazball comeback? You decide!
Shots fired in battle for Ashes as England roll out heavy artillery
Australia find themselves outgunned by visitors' five-man pace attack on fire-and-brimstone opening day
Head feared riling England's quicks during Perth onslaught
Emergency opener climbed onto the offensive against one of the fastest attacks in England's history
Fast-forward Brook sets tempo on thrilling opening day
England batter ignites Ashes hopes with trademark counterattack in Perth
Stats - Stokes and Starc lead the charge as wickets tumble in Perth
Starc picked up his 100th Ashes wicket but Stokes wrecked Australia with a five-for as 19 wickets fell on the opening day
Khawaja back spasm heralds Australia batting chaos
Marnus Labuschagne forced to open after back spasm forces Usman Khawaja off the field
Carse hails 'phenomenal' Stokes as captain inspires England fightback
Fast bowler hails decisions on and off the field as England emerge on top on rollercoaster first day
Starc difference in Australia's day of two halves
Seven-wicket haul sets up hosts only for familiar batting failures to hand back initiative
Bareknuckle Baz-brawl produces Ashes all-nighter for the ages
ESPNcricinfo UK editor Andrew Miller buckles up to recount the big moments that kept England fans going through the small hours
Why is Monty Panesar trending on the eve of the first Ashes Test?
Bizarre broadside from Australia's stand-in captain puts England's former spinner front and centre of the pre-series banter
Smith mocks Panesar Mastermind stint to hit back at sandpaper jibe
Australia's stand-in captain goes 'off-topic' to respond to pre-series taunts about ball-tampering
Stokes returns to the source as Ashes odyssey comes full circle
England captain is back in the city of his maiden hundred in 2013, after a wild ride through a series that defines him
England hold off on naming final XI for Perth Test
Ben Stokes waiting for final look at pitch before making call on all-pace attack
Root on Ashes challenge: 'It's not about me, it's about us collectively'
England's senior batter takes the responsibility in his stride as he gears up for Perth Test
Smith: If the result doesn't go our way, we can turn it around
Australia will start the Ashes without Cummins and Hazlewood and have two debutants in the XI but they aren't fretting it
Bazball by the numbers: still a gap against the best
The Stokes-McCullum era has undoubtedly changed England's Test team but a big hurdle remains
'Greyhound' Doggett in line to become Australia Test Cap No. 472
If he makes his debut, Brendan Doggett will become just the third Indigenous man after Jason Gillespie and Scott Boland to play Test cricket for Australia
Lee: Give Doggett the new ball ahead of Boland
The former quick said Boland could seam it "off ice" and not having to wait could help the debutant
Weatherald and Doggett handed debuts in first Ashes Test
Usman Khawaja will have his sixth opener partner since the retirement of David Warner
Glenn McGrath ditched by Australia broadcaster for betting agency partnership
Fast bowler falls foul of strict rules governing national broadcaster
Starc ready for extra burden as Australia's senior paceman
Left-armer will lead Australia's pace attack in the opening Ashes Test in the absence of Cummins and Hazlewood
'Drawing a long bow' - Greenberg defends Khawaja's golf after back spasm causes chaos
CA chief executive believes there is no correlation between Khawaja's injury and the three days of golf he played in the lead-in to the Test match
Australia's injuries fuel English optimism but task ahead is huge
The home side have handed out two debuts for the first time since 2019 while there remains much interest in the Perth pitch
