By Trisha Ghosal
In just six sessions, Australia have surged ahead in the Ashes 2026. Travis Head’s brilliant century lifted the hosts to a stirring win in a match that felt more like a highlights reel than a Test. England won the toss and boldly chose to bat first, only for Mitchell Starc to continue his old Perth tradition, a wicket in the opening over, before tearing through England’s line-up with a seven-wicket burst on a pitch bristling with pace and bite. Harry Brook was the lone beacon, counter-attacking his way to a typically fearless fifty.
A Test that barely stretched into the second day saw Australia folding in their first innings. Usman Khawaja’s back spasms created last-minute confusion, sending debutant Jake Weatherald out to open with Marnus Labuschagne. Weatherald’s first taste of Test cricket lasted all of two balls as Jofra Archer, hitting speeds reminiscent of his 2019 breakout year, blasted him out. Australia slumped to 132, with only three batters crossing 20. Ben Stokes, the heartbeat of England’s Test resurgence in recent years, summoned yet another lion-hearted spell to claim a gritty five-for.
England began their second innings with a 40-run advantage — a significant lead in Perth, where the surface tends to quicken under the sun. Starc, though, removed Zak Crawley for a pair with a remarkable one-handed return catch. A steady 65-run partnership followed before the familiar chaos returned. In the space of 23 runs, England lost five wickets to crash to 88 for 6. Australia’s short-ball tactic against Brydon Carse and Gus Atkinson momentarily misfired, offering England some brisk runs at the end, but the visitors were eventually bowled out for 164, leaving a target of 204.
Australia showed intent by promoting Head to open with Weatherald. Head, whose counter-attacking method has become Australia’s modern Ashes template, produced a blistering century, batting as if on a different surface altogether. Weatherald settled with a composed 23, and Labuschagne chipped in with a steady fifty as Australia romped home. The match, lasting just two days, echoed some of the shortest Ashes contests of the past, but with the added intensity of modern Test cricket.
England now face tough questions, about the pitch, their approach, and the controversial dismissal of Jamie Smith, but above all, about being outplayed in every decisive passage. Already on the back foot, they must find answers quickly, because from here, the Ashes only gets tougher.
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