During the first Ashes Test in Perth, many doubted Australia’s chances of chasing 205 after only one and a half days of play. The first three innings saw neither team reach 200, and Australia were bowled out for just 132 earlier, making the target seem unrealistic. But Travis Head changed the momentum completely by smashing a brilliant 123 at the top of the order.

His powerful innings drained England’s energy and left Ben Stokes unsure of how to respond. The 31-year-old reached his hundred in only 69 balls and finished with 123 from 83 deliveries, which included 16 boundaries and 4 sixes.

Head’s superb innings caught the attention of his Sunrisers Hyderabad teammate Abhishek Sharma as well. He praised Head on social media, acknowledging how reliably he delivers when his team depends on him.

“When Trav gets going, it looks effortless. A top-class ton and a proper statement,”Abhishek wrote.

The first Ashes Test wrapped up in two days, as the Perth surface offered plenty of help to the bowlers and made scoring difficult for both teams. England took a first-innings lead of 40.

England managed 164 runs in the second innings. In the end, the target was insufficient , as Head chased it down comfortably and received valuable help from Marnus Labuschagne, who amassed a fifty. Usman Khawaja left the field injured during the third innings and was unable to open, so Head stepped in alongside Jake Weatherald, and Australia took full control from the start.

England moved to 65 for 1 in their second innings and stretched the lead to 95, but Scott Boland and Mitchell Starc quickly turned the game around, reducing them to 88 for 6. Gus Atkinson’s 37 pushed the total to 164, leaving Australia 205 to chase. The win in Perth gave Australia a 1–0 lead in the five-match series, with the next day-night Test in Brisbane starting on December 4.