When Travis Head walked out to bat on the second morning of the first Ashes Test, Australia needed just 130 runs to win. By lunch, he’d smashed 100 of them — in 69 balls. No one saw it coming. Not even the most pessimistic England fan. By tea, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) team was gone, routed by eight wickets at Perth Stadium on November 22, 2025. It wasn’t just a loss. It was a demolition. An utter catastrophe — as Sky Sports Cricket put it — and the worst nightmare England has had in an Ashes Test in over a decade.
How England Crumbled Twice in Two Days
England’s first innings of 181 all out was bad enough. Their second innings, 236 all out, was worse. A total of 417 runs across two days against a side that declared at 473 for 9. That’s not just poor batting — it’s systemic failure. The pitch wasn’t treacherous. The conditions weren’t extreme. But England’s top order, once again, folded like paper. The same pattern that haunted them in Perth in 2021 — dismissed for 147 and 236 — repeated itself. Only this time, the scoreboard was even more brutal.What made it worse? The timing. The pressure. The fact that this was the opening Test of a five-match series, and the world was watching. Ben Stokes, England’s captain, stood helplessly as his bowlers chased ghosts on a flat track. His decision to bowl first after winning the toss? Questioned instantly. His failure to adapt when Australia’s openers built a foundation? Criticized relentlessly.
Travis Head: A Century That Shattered Expectations
Then came Travis Head. At 31, the Australian vice-captain didn’t just play a century — he redefined what a chase looks like. His 100 came off 69 balls. Fourteen boundaries. Two sixes. A whirlwind of drives, cuts, and pulls that left England’s attack looking slow, tired, and out of ideas. The crowd at Perth Stadium roared. The TV cameras zoomed in. Sky Sports Cricket replayed his boundaries on loop. This wasn’t just a knock. It was a statement. A reminder that Australia, even without Steve Smith and David Warner, still has players who can change a game in an hour.Head’s innings was so explosive, it drew comparisons to Viv Richards in the 1980s and David Warner’s 179 in Perth in 2021. But this was different. Head didn’t just dominate — he dismantled. He targeted every over, every bowler. Even the spinners weren’t safe. England’s off-spinner Jack Leach, brought on to slow the momentum, was clubbed for three consecutive fours. The scoreboard went from 130 to 230 in 32 overs. That’s not cricket. That’s carnage.
Why Perth Is England’s Worst Nightmare
Perth Stadium has become a graveyard for England’s batting. In 2021, they were bowled out for 147 and 236. In 2025, it was 181 and 236. The pattern is chillingly consistent. The ball seams early. The bounce is unpredictable. But the real issue? Mental fragility. England’s top order — Haseeb Hameed, Joe Root, Ollie Pope — all have the technical ability. But when the pressure mounts, they crumble. Again. And again.“England’s batting crumbled once again in Perth,” said Adam Collins, the veteran Fox Sports Australia commentator, live from the ground. “It’s not the pitch. It’s not the conditions. It’s the mindset. They don’t believe they can survive here.”
Collins, a 42-year-old journalist who’s covered Ashes series since 2013, has seen this before. But never with such clinical precision from Australia. The difference this time? Confidence. Australia’s players looked calm. England’s looked shell-shocked.
The Ripple Effect: Pressure Mounts on Stokes and ECB
This loss extends England’s winless streak in Australia to three consecutive Ashes Tests — dating back to their last win at the Sydney Cricket Ground on January 5, 2018. Three losses in a row. No wins. No draws. Just collapse after collapse. And now, with the second Test at Adelaide Oval just two weeks away, the pressure on Ben Stokes is unbearable.Former England captain Michael Vaughan, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, said: “Stokes is a warrior, but he’s not a tactician. He’s been outplayed by Pat Cummins in every department — from selection to captaincy.”
Meanwhile, the ECB faces mounting calls for a leadership review. Fans are demanding changes to the batting order. Critics are questioning the selection of uncapped players. And with the series now 1-0 to Australia, the prospect of another whitewash looms large.
What’s Next? Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney — And the Clock Is Ticking
The second Test begins December 5 at Adelaide Oval. The pitch there is slower, more spin-friendly — and England’s spinners, Leach and Rehan Ahmed, will be central. But can they contain Australia’s middle order if Head and Marnus Labuschagne get going? And can England’s batsmen finally find a way to bat for five sessions?There’s still time. Four matches remain. But the margin for error is gone. England need to win at least three to retain the Ashes. That’s not just a challenge. It’s a miracle.
As the final ball was bowled, Pat Cummins lifted the trophy at Perth Stadium, smiling. Behind him, the scoreboard read: Australia 473 for 9 dec, England 417 all out. The gap? 56 runs. The message? Australia owns this series. And England? They’ve got a lot to prove.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did England’s batting collapse again in Perth?
England’s batting failed due to a combination of poor shot selection, lack of adaptability to the bounce and seam movement at Perth Stadium, and psychological pressure from Australia’s aggressive field placements. The top order — Hameed, Root, Pope — all fell cheaply in both innings, mirroring their 2021 performance. No batter scored more than 50 in either innings, exposing a deep crisis in technique and temperament.
How does Travis Head’s 69-ball century compare historically?
Head’s 100 off 69 balls is the fastest century by an Australian in Ashes history, surpassing David Warner’s 71-ball hundred in 2013. Only three faster Test centuries have been scored by any player in Ashes history — all by batsmen with aggressive reputations. It’s the third-fastest century by any batter in a Test chase of under 150 runs since 2000, highlighting its rarity and impact.
What’s the significance of England’s winless streak in Australia?
England hasn’t won a Test in Australia since January 2018 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. That’s seven consecutive Tests without a win — including the 2021-22 series and now 2025-26. This is their longest winless run Down Under since the 1970s. If they lose in Adelaide, it will be their eighth straight defeat, matching their worst-ever Ashes record in Australia.
Who’s under the most pressure after this loss?
Ben Stokes, England’s captain, faces the most pressure. His tactical decisions — especially bowling first and rotating bowlers ineffectively — were widely criticized. The ECB may also be forced to reconsider his long-term leadership if results don’t improve. Meanwhile, coach Brendon McCullum’s aggressive philosophy is being questioned for failing to instill resilience in the top order.
Can England still win the Ashes after this defeat?
Technically, yes — but it’s unlikely. They need to win three of the remaining four Tests to retain the Ashes. Adelaide’s pitch favors spin, which could help England’s Leach and Ahmed. But Australia’s depth — with Head, Labuschagne, and Usman Khawaja in form — makes them favorites in every remaining venue. England would need near-perfect performances and multiple Australian slip-ups to turn the tide.
What role did the umpires play in the match?
Umpires Paul Wilson (Australia) and Richard Illingworth (England) officiated without controversy, according to match reports. No major DRS reviews were overturned, and no decisions were questioned by either team. Their neutrality was widely praised, especially given the high stakes and emotional intensity of the match.
