“I’ll do it.” With those innocuous three words, Travis Head triggered a chain of events that would result in arguably the most remarkable Ashes innings in recent memory. Australia had long toyed with the theory of switching Usman Khawaja and Travis Head between innings, depending on the conditions of the pitch.
Khawaja’s back spasms in Perth finally brought that theory to life. After a first-innings reshuffle that didn’t quite come off, Head put his hand up to open in the second-and produced a performance bordering on the unbelievable.
A Counterattack for the Ages
Australia were faced with a daunting chase of 205 on a treacherous surface. As Travis Head strode out alongside Jake Weatherald, the stadium was buzzing with anticipation. England knew what was coming. Australia knew what was coming. But as always, Head managed to astonish.
He started cautiously-3 runs off 14 balls-before unleashing a whirlwind assault. A handful of early boundaries hinted at what was to come, but once he found rhythm, England were powerless. Full deliveries disappeared through the covers and midwicket; short balls were ramped, pulled, and hammered to all parts of Perth Stadium.
The Second-Fastest Ashes Century
Head reached his fifty from 36 balls and his century from just 69 – the second-fastest hundred in Ashes history. It was an innings so blistering even Ben Stokes seemed taken aback.
“I’m still in a bit of a ‘wow’ phase after what Travis Head has just done,” Stokes admitted.
At the other end of the press conference table, Steven Smith disagreed with Head’s humble assessment.
“It’s right up there,” Smith said. “That was incredible to witness.”
Momentum Shifts and a Ruthless Response
When Weatherald fell with the partnership at 75, England sensed an opening. Head slowed briefly, scoring just one run from eight balls after drinks. But when Stokes took the ball, the contest got personal.
The hardened English captain up against Australia’s unconventional, fearless dasher.
He responded by hitting four boundaries in five balls. Then came the moment of the match: a near-140kph short ball from Jofra Archer, flat-batted over the sightscreen a shot that symbolised complete domination.
A Stadium on Its Feet
Before he was dismissed for a brilliant 123 off 83 balls, Travis Head received two standing ovations from the close to 50,000-strong crowd. His knock didn’t just turn the momentum; it broke England’s plans completely.
“We tried three, four, five modes to get him out,” said Stokes. “He had an answer for everything.”
From Doubt to Destruction
Head later said he had reservations about his form ahead of the series. A lean period in white-ball cricket followed by a poor Sheffield Shield game had him feeling uncertain about being ready. But days of concentrated training led him to feel confident again.
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Faced with high pace and elite quality, he questioned himself over whether he was still “cut out for it.” His innings emphatically answered that.
Should Travis Head Open Permanently?
Head’s brilliance reignited the debate about moving him to the top of the order. While he has previously floated the idea particularly after David Warner’s retirement selectors have preferred keeping him at No. 5, where he has produced countless match-winning innings. But after the fear he injected into England in Perth, the Australian camp may well be tempted to say: “Let’s do it.”
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