Travis Head demoralises England with monstrous 100 in Perth; check fastest Ashes hundred list

Akshita Patel

Fastest hundreds in Ashes history [Source: AFP Photos]Fastest hundreds in Ashes history [Source: AFP Photos]

The Ashes 2025 opening Test in Perth ended in two days, and the star of the show was none other than Travis Head. Coming out as an opener, he destroyed England on all fronts.

Chasing 205, Head switched on his T20 mode and smashed 123 off just 83 balls with 16 fours and 4 sixes. That special knock helped him enter the elusive list of fastest hundreds in Ashes history.

Here’s a detailed look at that list.

4. 85 balls - Travis Head vs England, Brisbane, 2021

4. 85 balls - Travis Head vs England, Brisbane, 2021 [Source: @Gk1679521Kumar/X.com]4. 85 balls - Travis Head vs England, Brisbane, 2021 [Source: @Gk1679521Kumar/X.com]

The Ashes 2021 kicked off in Brisbane, and the Aussies were on a roll from day 1. Pat Cummins’ fifer in the first inning restricted England to 147. And in response, Travis Head, batting at no. 5, came out all guns blazing. 

He took Jack Leach to the cleaners and completed his century in just 85 balls. Not only that, Head went on to capitalise on the momentum to finish with 152 off 148 balls with 14 fours and four sixes and a 102.70 strike rate. His knock set the tone for Australia’s 9-wicket victory.

3. 76 - Gilbert Jessop vs Australia, The Oval, 1902

3. 76 - Gilbert Jessop vs Australia, The Oval, 1902 [Source: @ABsay_ek/X.com]3. 76 - Gilbert Jessop vs Australia, The Oval, 1902 [Source: @ABsay_ek/X.com]

A record from over 120 years ago that still feels unreal. In 1902, when helmets didn’t exist and pitches were unpredictable, Gilbert Jessop played an innings that people still talk about today. 

Chasing 263 runs in the fifth Test at The Oval, Jessop walked out at 48/5 for England and formed a 100+ run partnership with George Hirst. Gilbert played with intent and scored a heroic century off just 76 balls. He held his end of the crease and guided England to a famous 1-wicket victory.

2. 69 - Travis Head vs England, Perth, 2025

2. 69 - Travis Head vs England, Perth, 2025 [Source: @Hashir_63/X.com]2. 69 - Travis Head vs England, Perth, 2025 [Source: @Hashir_63/X.com]

In an eventful opening Test of the Ashes 2025 held at Perth, Travis Head emerged as the unlikely hero. He opened in place of injured Usman Khawaja while chasing 205 on a pitch that saw three innings wind up in 1.5 days. 

While the task was atrocious, Head activated his clutch mode and launched a counterattack. He smashed Ben Stokes, Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse all over the park like a T20 game. Head reached his hundred in just 69 balls and was eventually dismissed on 123 off 83 balls with 16 fours and four sixes. 

His knock helped Australia win by 8 wickets and also wrap up the Test in just two days.

1. 57 - Adam Gilchrist vs England, Perth, 2006

1. 57 - Adam Gilchrist vs England, Perth, 2006 [Source: @cricketcomau/X.com]1. 57 - Adam Gilchrist vs England, Perth, 2006 [Source: @cricketcomau/X.com]

The king of counter-attack takes the top spot. In the third Test of the Ashes 2006 held at W.A.C.A stadium in Perth, Australia scored 527 runs in the third inning. After a 151-run partnership between Michael Hussey and Clarke, Adam Gilchrist walked out to bat at no. 7 and went all out. 

He took on the likes of Monty Panesar and Steve Harmison head-on and brought up his century in just 57 balls. He stayed not out on 102 off 59 balls before Australia declared the innings. While the Aussies registered a 206-run victory, Gilchrist scripted a record that still remains untouched even in the modern era.