Travis Head Century, AUS vs ENG 1st Test: Travis Head produced a moment of magic for Australia in the second innings of the first Test against England in the ongoing Ashes 2025-26 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
He smashed an outstanding century during Australia’s run chase on the second day of the match.
Head entered his name in the record books as he hit the second-fastest Test century in Ashes history, having achieved the milestone in 69 balls. He is only behind Adam Gilchrist’s 57-ball effort in the 2006/07 series. This is also the joint-fastest century by an opening batter in all Tests. Head created history as his century is also the fastest ever hundred in the 4th innings chases. The 31-year-old now also features in the list of players with the fastest test centuries.
Fastest Test Centuries
Brendon McCullum (NZ): 54 balls vs Australia in Christchurch (2015/16)
Viv Richards (WI): 56 balls vs England in St John’s (1985/86)
Misbah-ul-Haq (PAK): 56 balls vs Australia in Abu Dhabi (2014/15)
Adam Gilchrist (AUS): 57 balls vs England in Perth (2006/07)
JM Gregory (AUS): 67 balls vs South Africa in Johannesburg (1921/22)
Travis Head (AUS): 69 balls vs England in Perth (2025-26)
Shivnarine Chanderpaul (WI): 69 balls vs Australia in Georgetown (2002/03)
David Warner (Australia): 69 balls vs India in Perth (2011/12)
Chris Gayle (WI): 70 balls vs Australia in Perth (2009/10)
Head came out to open for Australia in the second innings along with Jake Weatherald. He stitched a 75-run opening stand to set the tone for the run chase. He then unleashed an absolute carnage and went on to play a memorable knock of 123 runs in 83 balls on the back of 16 fours and four boundaries. After taking the hosts very close to the victory, Head was dismissed by Brydon Carse in the 27th over.
Australia chase down the 205-run target in 28.2 overs to go 1-0 up in the five-match series. Head, who came in place of Usman Khawaja to open the innings for the hosts at Optus Stadium earlier, had completed his half-century in just 36 balls.
Head scored his runs at a strike rate of 148.19, the highest by any batter in a successful run chase in a Test match. He went past the record of Jonny Bairstow who scored a hundred at a strike rate of 147.82 vs New Zealand in 2022.
“Wow, what a couple of days. It’s been unbelievable. The emotions are pretty high. They (England) were seriously good out there yesterday and started to drag it back, so we knew we couldn’t afford to let the game slip. To be able to contribute the way I did – yeah, it feels pretty special,” Head said.