Where Travis Head's century in first Ashes Test against England ranks in all-time hundreds

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Travis Head's staggering century against England was the second-fastest hundred in Ashes history and the third-fastest by an Australian in any Test match. The 31-year-old notched his third Ashes century off just 69 balls as Australia stormed to victory in the opening Test, winning by eight wickets. Mitchell Starc described the century as "something else", while Ben Stokes labelled it "phenomenal".

Head with 'the most important' century of his career as Australia close in on England total

Video credit: TNT Sports

Travis Head’s scintillating century against England on day two of the NRMA Insurance men’s Ashes first Test in Perth was the second-fastest hundred in Ashes history.

The 31-year-old registered his 10th Test century and third Ashes hundred off just 69 balls as he inspired Australia to a dominant second innings, with the hosts ultimately winning the first Test by eight wickets.

The only player to score a quicker century in The Ashes was Australian Adam Gilchrist in 2006, also in Perth.

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Asked to summarise his emotions afterwards, Head told TNT Sports: "I don't think you can, can you?

"It’s a good start, it was a tough two days, they’re a seriously good outfit. [Mitchell Starc] led us, 7-58, I couldn’t let that slip; it’s nice to contribute.

"I knew I was going to get tested in all departments, when I got 50-60, I could feel the momentum.

"I got 99 here a few years ago, I've wasted a couple. But it's a lovely place to bat. An intimidating place to bat, it gives you some sleepless nights with the cracks."

'He's on a roll!' - Head hits four boundaries from five Stokes balls for Australia

Video credit: TNT Sports

Asked about opening for Australia, Head said: "I was happy to do it, it doesn't bother me too much. I sort of floated the idea, nice to play a role.

"We threw some ideas around the room. I was pretty keen to do it. Quite easily could have been out in the first over, it didn't really matter it was the right process, right way to go about it."

Head’s hundred, which consisted of four sixes and 12 fours, was the joint-third fastest by an Australian in any Test match.

With Gilchrist’s heroics in 2006 also topping that list, Jack Gregory’s century off 67 balls against South Africa in 1921 is the only other effort above Head’s hundred on Saturday.

David Warner also registered a century off just 69 balls during a Test match against India in 2012, which, again, also took place in Perth - albeit at the old WACA ground.

Australia's fastest Ashes centuries

Adam Gilchrist, 2006	59 balls
Travis Head, 2025	69 balls
Travis Head, 2021	85 balls
Joe Darling, 1898	85 balls

Reacting to Head's heroics, player of the match Mitchell Starc told TNT Sports: "Travis Head, to take the game on like that and come up trumps, it was something else."

Meanwhile, England captain Ben Stokes said: "A little bit shell-shocked. That innings from Travis Head was pretty phenomenal. It's quite raw, quite fresh, but geez, that was some knock."

He added: "The knock from Travis knocked the wind out of us. We tried three or four different plans on him but when he's going like a train he's very hard to stop."

On the all-time list of the fastest Test centuries, Head’s effort against England is joint-sixth.

Only Brendon McCullum, Viv Richards, Misbah-ul-Haq, Gilchrist and Gregory are above the 31-year-old, with the former leading the way, having registered a century off just 54 balls against Australia in 2016.

Head was eventually caught by Ollie Pope off Brydon Carse after posting an incredible total of 123 off just 83 balls.

At that point Australia required just 13 more runs to record a crushing victory over England in the first Test.

Steven Smith and Marnus Labuschagne got the job done, which meant Australia would take a 1-0 lead in the series to the second Test at the Gabba.

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