Australia batter Travis Head was the match-winner with a stunning 123, from 83 balls, but he paid tribute to fast bowler Mitchell Starc for ripping through rivals England in the first innings
Australia batter Travis Head singled out his teammate Mitchell Starc for special praise after their match-winning contributions to gun down Ashes rivals England inside two days. England collapsed on Day Two at Perth’s Optus Stadium as the Aussies stunned the tourists to complete an eight-wicket win.
England had edged Day One and looked to be in control at lunch on Day Two, as well. However, an eye-catching turnaround with ball and bat saw Australia draw first blood in the five-match series.
Head scored a breath-taking 123 off 83 deliveries as he guided the Aussies to the winning line alongside Marnus Labuschagne, who scored 51 not out at the other end. Head was denied the opportunity to hit the winning runs, after being dismissed by Brydon Carse (2-44).
However, that was not enough to derail the Australian match-winner, even if he pointed to Starc’s seven-wicket haul in the first innings as being more decisive in victory.
Starc, who was named player-of-the-match, grabbed 10 wickets throughout the Ashes opener and a humble Head made sure he got additional plaudits.
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He told TNT Sports: “Good start. They’re a seriously good outfit and we couldn’t let Starc-y getting 7-58 slip.
“First game of the series to set the tone. I feel sorry for the 60,000 who were due to come tomorrow.
“They’ve got some serious fast bowling. I just tried to hit down the breeze. 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… It was a pretty food wicket, Day Two, nice not having to bat day four or five.
“We’re 1-0 up, we’re going to Brisbane. If that’s anything to go by it’s going to be a hell of a series.”
Asked whether he had processed his breath-taking innings: “No. Not even close.”
Head, who was promoted to open after an injury to Usman Khawaja, continued: “I was happy to do it, it doesn’t bother me too much. I sort of floated the idea, nice to play a role. Coach, captain [decided he’d open]. We threw some ideas around the room.
“I was pretty keen to do it. Quite easily could have been out in the first over, didn’t really matter it was the right process, and the right way to go about it.”
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