Player of the Match
Player of the Match

6.10pm: Fair dinkum, Trav dunked 'em. What an innings, what a way to start the series. England were in the box seat, 105 runs ahead with nine wickets standing, and then whoomph... Another day of two halves, and it's Australia who take the spoils in round one. If England can muster a response (something they have struggled with historically in Australia), this could be one heck of an Ashes. If not, then it'll be a painful one. Anyway, the Live Report has more for those of you still trying to process things, while Tristan Lavalette's more considered offering is on its way, followed by reaction and analysis from our guys at the ground. We'll be back for the pink-ball Test in Brisbane in just under a fortnight. Time now for a lie-down in a darkened room. Bye!

5.22pm: Time for the presentations, starting with the Player of the Match, Mitchell Starc: [Top batting] "Sums it up. Travis Head, to take the game on like that and come up trumps was something to watch. Helter-skelter two days. There was a lot said going in but we needed to stick to our guns. Scotty Boland came good, Brendan Doggett on debut was fantastic. First time I haven't had Josh and Pat around for a while. Didn't change my role at all. If I can just do my role as I've mostly done across the years [that was the plan]."

England captain Ben Stokes: "Little bit shellshocked. Pretty phenomenal from Head. Pretty raw, pretty fresh, but that was some knock. The guys who had success were really brave and took the game on. If you find yourself in the position of getting in, you have to try and go on. Travis has knocked the wind out of us there. The guys who took it on and put their best bowlers under pressure found success on that [surface]. We tried three or four different plans to him, but when he's going like a train, he's very hard to stop. [Positives] The way in which we bowled yesterday was phenomenal. A lot happened on day one, a good day for the bowlers. Tough one, as we felt we were in control. Let this sink in, but we've got four more games. Long time before Brisbane, we'll go away and put in the graft."

Australia's Steven Smith: "Good start, wasn't it. Two-dayer, which we love when we're on the right side. [Head] That innings was out of this world, one of those days when he's on and he got us home. At tea time, had discussions [about the order], didn't like how it had gone in the first innings. He said he'd do it. [Other candidates?] Nathan Lyon was talked about, to be honest. Made the right decision in the end. That's right up there, fourth innings. The way he went about his business. And Marnus did a wonderful job at the other end as well. [Starc] Unbelievable. Two of the big three out, a lot on his shoulders. He bowled beautifully. It was a terrible ball, but the way he bowled to take seven was incredible. They backed it up today, Scott Boland was exceptional. [Doggett] Got a couple of key wickets, played nicely. Knows how to go about his business. Jake [Weatherald] made a rough start but the way he came out with Trav was outstanding. That partnership up top was amazing. [Cummins back for Brisbane?] I hope so, he's an absolute weapon, the skipper, so of course you want him back. Proud of the boys, glad to be 1-0 up. [Perth] Sensational, great crowd and it created a great vibe."

5.45pm: A two-day finish in Perth, and a barnstorming start to the series! First time a target has been successfully chased here - in the short history of the Optus Stadium - and it was largely down to the efforts of one man, Travis Head scoring 123 (83) as easy as ABC as Australia ran down the highest score in the match with ease. Head is already in his training gear as he walks out for the handshakes. The coolest man in the Ashes cauldron ices the job for Australia

Here is Travis Head talking to Channel 7: [Describe that] "I don't think I can. Good start to series. They're a seriously good outfit and the way Starcy led us yesterday, couldn't let that slip. [Processed yet?] Not even close. I was happy to do it [open]. Knew their plans, short-pitched bowling and what they would bring. Nice to be able to play a role. Lovely start. [Who made decision?] Coach and captain, I was keen to do it. Easily could have been out first over, go out there and see what happens. First game, to set the tone. Look forward to Brisbane now, what a start. Tried to hit down breeze. They're a seriously good bowling outfit. Made a couple of 90s here, I got 99 once - so wasted a couple. But lovely place to bat. [Ovation] Great moment, I'm no good at getting red ink. Normally try to get off the field as quick as a can. We'll celebrate, it's an Ashes series, we're 1-0 up, it's a fantastic start."

28.2
1
Carse to Smith, 1 run, punched through the off side, Australia seal their sprint to victory and a 1-0 series lead in the 2025-26 Ashes! They needed just 28.2 overs to out-Bazball the Bazballers
28.1
0
Carse to Smith, no run, digs in the bouncer from round the wicket, left alone

Bivin: "Stuart Broad must have understood that even the weakest Australian side can beat the strongest English side. Period"

END OF OVER:
28 | 12 Runs | AUS: 204/2

  • Marnus Labuschagne51 (49b)
  • Steven Smith1 (2b)
  • Joe Root1-0-12-0
  • Brydon Carse5-0-43-2

"So Uzzy playing golf after all help Oz to win the game! Just saying 
.." Rofl-worthy, Rishi

27.6
6
Root to Labuschagne, SIX, cleaned out into the stands, fifty for Labuschagne! Dances down and plonks Root over long-on. Australia draw level with their quarry
27.5
0
Root to Labuschagne, no run, worked into the leg side
27.4
4
Root to Labuschagne, FOUR, pounded down the ground! Marnus charges out and swings for the pickets, clearing mid-off to pick up four more
27.3
1
Root to Smith, 1 run, tossed up on the stumps, Smith gets off the mark with a whip wide of mid-on

"Of all the bad things that happened in 2025, Heads innings is in the top 10." I'm guessing Alex isn't Australian

27.2
1
Root to Labuschagne, 1 run, pushed through and Labuschagne works it to square leg for one
27.1
0
Root to Labuschagne, no run, flat outside off, poked to point

The jig's up, on comes Joe Root

END OF OVER:
27 | 10 Runs 1 Wkt | AUS: 192/2

  • Steven Smith0 (1b)
  • Marnus Labuschagne40 (44b)
  • Brydon Carse5-0-43-2
  • Gus Atkinson9-1-61-0

"You obviously don't know England fans, we're all thinking 5-0." Well done for reading between the lines there, Sean

26.6
0
Carse to Smith, no run, banged in short and wide of off, left alone

After a hug with Head on the boundary rope, in walks Australia's stand-in skipper, Steven Smith, to ice the cake

26.5
W
Carse to Head, OUT, gone, Head finally holes out to deep midwicket! But he will walk off to a standing ovation at Perth Stadium. The makeshift opener, Redback Trav has raw-dogged England into submission with one of the great Ashes innings. Carse picks up the wicket but it's after the event

TM Head c Pope b Carse 123 (137m 83b 16x4 4x6) SR: 148.19

"In all seriousness, how do England come back from this? Travis Head or not, they should still be batting right now with the position they were in this morning." That's, errm, the beauty of a long series, Jazz, plenty of time for the momentum to shift again. I'm sure that's how England fans will be seeing it...

26.4
4
Carse to Head, FOUR, clattered through midwicket! Head's on for Australia. Heads gone for England. Short and hammered in front of square again
26.3
2
Carse to Head, 2 runs, swatted into the covers and they'll come back for two
26.2
4
Carse to Head, FOUR, marmelised! More Heady stuff from the moustachoied maestro. Leans into a hoick across the line, bouncing well in front of the man at deep square leg
26.1
0
Carse to Head, no run, round the wicket, dug in short and swatted to midwicket

Carse replaces Archer

END OF OVER:
26 | 20 Runs | AUS: 182/1

  • Marnus Labuschagne40 (44b)
  • Travis Head113 (78b)
  • Gus Atkinson9-1-61-0
  • Jofra Archer8-0-45-0
25.6
4
Atkinson to Labuschagne, FOUR, hauled over mid-on and away, bit of an ugly hack from Marnus but they can see the winning line now. A 20-run over, brings the target almost within reach

"I'm not surprised, just disappointed." Andrew describing the thoughts of Englishmen everywhere

25.5
1
Atkinson to Head, 1 run, back of a length into the body, shovelled out to deep midwicket on the bounce
25.5
1w
Atkinson to Head, 1 wide, another too-short bumper, wided
25.4
4
Atkinson to Head, FOUR, clears backward point! "Oh no, get over!" was the cry from Head. Not quite where he wanted it but just clears the leaping Carse. Brings up the 100 stand
25.3
4
Atkinson to Head, FOUR, monstered! Head makes room and blasts straight back past the bowler in his follow through! Atkinson stuck out a hand in vain as the ball fizzed away to long-on
25.3
1w
Atkinson to Head, 1 wide, another trampoline bouncer, called by the umpires on height
25.2
1
Atkinson to Labuschagne, 1 run, banged in, maybe pace off (or maybe just tired), 122kph. Swung through square leg
25.1
4
Atkinson to Labuschagne, FOUR, roundhoused through midwicket! Labuschagne shuffles away to leg early and mauls a pull to the fence

END OF OVER:
25 | 2 Runs | AUS: 162/1

  • Marnus Labuschagne31 (41b)
  • Travis Head104 (75b)
  • Jofra Archer8-0-45-0
  • Gus Atkinson8-1-41-0

"My Potm is Travis. No offence to Starc but in a mostly bowler dominated match, Head stands out and took the game away from Eng." Hard to argue, Bhaskar... and cricket is a batters' game

24.6
1
Archer to Labuschagne, 1 run, ramped down to third, in the air but bouncing well short of Atkinson in the end
24.5
0
Archer to Labuschagne, no run,

"Head looks exhausted, might force us back tomorrow!" cries Jay

Australia 4th innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st75TM HeadJ Weatherald
2nd117TM HeadM Labuschagne
3rd13SPD SmithM Labuschagne