Travis Head's 69-Ball Century Seals Australia's Two-Day Ashes Win in Perth

Travis Head didn’t just win a Test match — he rewrote the record books. On November 22, 2025, the 32-year-old Australian opener smashed a blistering 123 off just 83 balls at Perth Stadium, guiding his team to an eight-wicket victory over England in 28.2 overs — completing the win on the second day of what was meant to be a five-day battle. His 69-ball century? The second-fastest in Ashes history. His strike rate of 148.19? A new all-time record for a successful run chase in Test cricket. And with that knock, he became the first batter ever to score two Ashes centuries in under 85 balls. The crowd, packed to the rafters with 49,983 on Day 2, erupted like it was the final over of a World Cup final. It wasn’t just a win. It was a statement.

Australia’s Ruthless Chase

England, buoyed by a stunning 6-1-23-5 bowling performance from their captain Benjamin Bill Stokes, had bundled Australia out for 195 on Day 1. Stokes’ figures weren’t just good — they were historic. The best ever by an English captain in Ashes history, surpassing Gubby Allen’s 6-0-36-5 from 1936. He’d broken a record that had stood for nearly 90 years. But when Australia walked out to chase 196, the script flipped.

Head, calm as a monk, didn’t just face the bowling — he dismantled it. Sixteen fours. Four sixes. No hesitation. No fear. He took the attack to England’s frontline bowlers, particularly targeting the spin of Jack Leach and the pace of Ollie Robinson. By the 10th over, Australia was 70 for no loss. By the 20th, they were 142 for two. The target was gone before lunch on Day 2. The game ended at 2:17 p.m. local time. The crowd, still buzzing, didn’t leave. They stayed to salute.

A Record That Defies Logic

Head’s 148.19 strike rate didn’t just beat Jonny Bairstow’s previous record of 147.82 — it shattered it by nearly a full point. That’s like running a 100m sprint in 9.5 seconds when the old record was 9.58. It’s not just about power. It’s about timing, placement, and nerve. Only Adam Gilchrist’s legendary 57-ball ton in the 2006 Perth Test has ever been faster in Ashes history. And Head’s knock tied David Warner’s 69-ball century against India in 2012 — both at the same ground. Now, Head sits in the top six fastest Test centuries ever, period. And he did it while chasing, under pressure, with the series on the line.

What makes it more extraordinary? He’d already done this once before. His previous Ashes century — a 78-ball 101 in the 2023 series — was the first time any batter had cracked an Ashes ton in under 85 balls. Now he’s done it twice. No one else in cricket history has even come close.

England’s Heroic Effort, Hollow Victory

Stokes’ spell was a masterpiece. He bowled with precision, movement, and relentless intensity. His five wickets included the prized scalps of Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne — Australia’s two most dangerous batters. He had the crowd on its feet, the commentators in awe. But in Test cricket, even the greatest bowling performances can be undone by one unstoppable innings. England’s fielding, too, slipped. A dropped catch off Head on 34 — by Ben Duckett at short fine leg — proved costly. That moment, more than any other, gave Head the breathing room he needed.

“They were seriously good out there yesterday,” Head said in his post-match interview, still wearing his cap, sweat dripping. “And we knew we couldn’t afford to let the game slip. To be able to contribute the way I did — yeah, it feels pretty special.” Simple words. But they carried the weight of a man who knew he’d just etched his name into history.

A Nation Celebrates — And Rests

The win gave Australia a 1-0 lead in the five-match the 2025-26 Commonwealth Bank Ashes SeriesPerth Stadium. It also extended England’s winless streak on Australian soil to 15 years — their last Test victory here came in 2010-11. The attendance figures were staggering: 101,514 over two days, smashing the previous record at the stadium set just last December during Australia vs. India. The energy was electric. The noise, deafening.

And then — silence. The Australian team packed up immediately after the match. No press conference. No victory lap. Just a quiet departure to their respective home cities for “a few bonus days of rest,” as reported by 7NEWS Australia. They know what’s coming: Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane. Four more Tests. Four more chances to dominate. But this? This was the statement.

What Comes Next?

The Ashes series continues on December 26, 2025, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. England will need to fix their batting — they lost five wickets for 34 runs in the final 10 overs of their first innings. Australia’s pace attack, led by Pat Cummins and Scott Boland, will be hungry for more. And Head? He’s now the man everyone will try to stop. But good luck with that.

Statistically, the top five strike rates in successful Test run chases now read:

• 148.19 — Travis Head, Australia vs England, Perth, November 22, 2025
• 147.82 — Jonny Bairstow, England vs New Zealand, Wellington, February 24, 2022
• 132.14 — Nathan Astle, New Zealand vs England, Christchurch, March 16, 2002
• 128.42 — Shahid Afridi, Pakistan vs West Indies, Multan, October 2, 2005
• 127.58 — Virender Sehwag, India vs South Africa, Chennai, December 2, 2008

Head isn’t just on the list. He’s at the top. And he’s not done.