Australia Stun England with Eight-Wicket Thrashing in Record-Breaking Two-Day Ashes Test

Australia delivered a stunning comeback to crush England by eight wickets in the opening Ashes Test at Perth Stadium, wrapping up the contest in just two days—the shortest completed Ashes match in over a century. Travis Head’s explosive 123 off 83 balls turned the game on its head, chasing down 205 with ease after Mitchell Starc’s career-best 7/58 had earlier dismantled England. The hosts overcame their own first-innings struggles to lead 1-0 in the series, reinforcing their dominance on home soil. A raucous, capacity crowd of over 50,000 reveled in the chaos under blazing sunshine, witnessing 19 wickets on day one and a Bazball-style counterattack from Australia that left England shell-shocked. This result sent shockwaves through the cricket world, highlighting the perils of aggressive cricket on a seamer-friendly pitch.

The Perth Stadium, under relentless sunny conditions with no assistance from weather or dew, produced a chaotic low-scorer overall but explosive moments, with just over 800 runs across the match in fewer than 300 overs. The pitch — bouncy and seaming early, then offering variable carry — favored bowling throughout, making defense tough and chases risky. England captain Ben Stokes’ decision to bat first after winning the toss proved costly, as the surface deteriorated rapidly. For Stokes, the defeat was gut-wrenching, undone by collapses and misjudged aggression; for stand-in Australia captain Steven Smith, it was triumphant, a tactical masterstroke to promote Head paying dividends. As Smith punched the winning runs through covers amid roaring cheers, the series narrative tilted heavily toward Australia, with England facing an immediate fightback.

Australia XI Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith (c), Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Marsh, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Nathan Lyon, Brendan Doggett

England XI Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer

England – 172 (32.5 overs) & 164 (34.4 overs) England’s first innings imploded under Starc’s swing and seam, slumping to 172 despite Harry Brook’s defiant 52. Early breakthroughs saw Crawley edge Starc for a duck, followed by Root’s golden duck to his 100th Ashes wicket. Stokes (5/23 in Australia’s reply) inspired a fightback, but Starc ripped through with 7/58, exploiting bounce to trigger a collapse from 95/6 to all out. In the second dig, England started strongly at 65/1 with a 105-run lead, but Boland (4/33) sparked disaster—losing 9/99 in a session of reckless drives. Atkinson (37) and Carse resisted briefly in a 47-run stand, but Starc (3/55) and Boland finished the job. Extras were 20 combined, with no big partnerships surviving the pace barrage. England’s Bazball approach backfired spectacularly on a lively track, handing Australia momentum.

Australia – 132 (41.2 overs) & 205/2 (28.2 overs) Australia’s first innings faltered at 132, trailing by 40, as Stokes’ inspired spells claimed 5/23 amid 19 wickets on day one. Khawaja’s absence disrupted, but Green and Marsh offered glimpses before the tail crumbled. Needing 205—the match’s highest score—Australia unleashed chaos: Head, promoted to open, smashed 123 off 83 (second-fastest Ashes ton), peppering boundaries with audacious drives and pulls. He shared a blistering stand with Labuschagne (51*), racing to victory at over 7 an over in just 28.2 overs. Carse took 2/44, but England’s bowlers wilted under the onslaught. No collapse occurred; momentum shifted decisively with Head’s aggression mirroring—and bettering—England’s philosophy. Smith sealed it with a punch, triggering wild celebrations in a historic chase at Perth Stadium.

Key Moments

• Mitchell Starc’s career-best 7/58 in England’s first innings, dismantling the top order with swing and bounce.
• Travis Head’s explosive 123 off 83 balls, the second-fastest century in Ashes history, turning defense into dominance.
• England’s second-innings collapse of 9/99, triggered by Boland’s three quick wickets in 11 balls.
• 19 wickets falling on day one, the most in an Ashes opener since 1909, setting up the two-day finish.
• First successful fourth-innings chase at Perth Stadium, with Head’s ton sealing the shortest Ashes Test since 1888 (847 balls bowled).

Player of the Match: Mitchell Starc (7/58 & 3/55) Winning Captain (Steven Smith): “What a fightback from the boys. Travis took the game away in style—we promoted him and it paid off hugely. Starcy was unplayable, and to win like this in two days is special. We’re 1-0 up in the Ashes; the series is on fire now, and we’re ready for Brisbane.” Losing Captain (Ben Stokes): “We had them at 105 ahead with nine down, but lost our way with the bat. Credit to Australia—they out-Bazballed us today. It’s a tough one to take, but we’ve got to regroup fast. The series is long; we believe we can turn it around.”

Series: Australia lead 1–0 Next → Australia vs England, 2nd Ashes Test: The Gabba, Brisbane — December 5–9, 2025 (pink-ball day/night, 10:00 AM local)

This two-day demolition not only handed Australia an early series advantage but also exposed vulnerabilities in England’s aggressive approach on seaming Australian pitches. With Head’s heroics and Starc’s mastery, the hosts carry formidable momentum into the pink-ball clash at the Gabba, while England must rediscover resilience to keep their Ashes hopes alive in what promises to be a ferocious contest.