AUS vs ENG

A contest that will be remembered for a plethora of reasons - a Test match that was wrapped up in two days, one that witnessed wildly fluctuating fortunes, wickets falling at both ends and for both teams, before the Australian batters demonstrated that the demons on the pitch had just about disappeared!! And not least, for a majestic ton from the blade of Travis Head!! That's all we have for you today.  Stay with Sportskeeda for all the news and live action from the cricketing world, including the India-South Africa Test series.  This is Subhashish signing off along with Sourabh!! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!!

Steven Smith (Australia captain): Good start wasn't it? Two-day game which we love as a team if we're on the right side of it. That innings from Travis Head was incredible. Even when he shanked it he seemed to hit the gaps. One of those days when if you're on, you're on. About Tea time when we ran off (laughs). We were thinking of a few discussions and we weren't happy with how it went in the first innings. Travis said he wanted to do it and we said go on. Nathan Lyon was one of the guys but I think we made the right decision in the end. Right up there with the best knocks I've seen from anyone. The wicket was almost at its best to bat at the end there but the way he went about his business, played some shots early and then when they went to the short plan, he found the gaps. I thought Marnus did a wonderful job at the other end too, took it on. (On Starc) He was unbelievable. Two of the big three out, a lot on his shoulders, leader of the attack. He bowled beautifully. It was a terrible cricket ball we had and the boys were struggling to get the seam right and to get seven was unbelievable. Scott Boland I thought bowled exceptionally well today, his lengths were superb. (On the debutants) I thought Doggy did really well, he got a couple of key wickets - Brooky in the first innings was playing nicely. He's young in terms of Test cricket but knows how to go about it in first-class cricket. He's versatile in terms of how he can bowl and thought he did a good job. Jake, rough start with a duck in the first innings but the way he came out with Trav was outstanding. You want to start well in a chase of 200 and I thought he started well with Trav. (On Cummins) I hope so (he's fit). He's an absolute weapon, the skipper and arguably the best bowler in the world. We'll wait and see. I think we've got two weeks almost before the next game. Amazing game, great to be 1-0 up. Sensational (atmosphere), great crowd, plenty of noise out there and created the vibe.

Ben Stokes (England captain): Little bit shell-shocked but the innings from Travis Head was pretty special. Quite raw right now but that innings was quite special. You look at the way the game played out. The guys have a lot of success taking the game on. You have to look back on that. If you find yourself in a situation where you're the guy who is in, try and give yourself the best chance to go on. But that knock from Travis just knocked the wind out. There certainly was a lot of assistance there when the bowlers got the ball in the right areas but the guys were brave enough to knock the ball around. (On the short ball plan to Head) We tried three or four different plans at him. He was going like a train. When he's going like that, he's very hard to stop. (On the bowling on Day 1) The way in which we bowled yesterday was something phenomenal. A lot happened on Day 1, 19 wickets fell. It was a good day for the bowlers and obviously it's a very tough one to get the series going especially when we felt were in control. But we've got four more games to go. It'll hurt extremely but we've got to get our head around to Brisbane. A long time before that game starts and we'll be working hard going away and get to Brisbane.

Mitchell Starc has been named as the Player of the Match for his 10 wickets in the game (7/58 & 3/55), here are his words:

"Travis Head taking the game on like that and coming out trumps is quite unbelievable and something to watch. It was quite a helter-skelter two days for both the sides. A lot made outside but we knew if we stick to our guns and do what we do. We saw Boland come into his own today, Doggett on debut was fantastic and Head was something else. You can't go home not happy with the entertainment through the two days. I was actually pretty clam the whole week. First time in a while that I didn't have Josh and Pat, Scotty has been there for a while and I know Doggy (Doggett) since a long time and he has been fantastic. I was the old head this week but it did not change my role at all. Been the same way for nearly 15 years. Keeps us in good stead if I could do just what I have done mostly."

Here is the man of the moment, Travis Head: 

Seriously unbelievable. Been a hard two days, there are a serious outfit. Starc led us with a 7-er and we just could not let it go. (on when he told the captain he would open) Two years ago (chuckles). Was happy to do it, doesn't bother me too much. The idea floated when we were there (in England) in 2023. (Whose decision was it for him to open?) Coach and the captain, we had a couple of options but I was very keen to do it. Lucky that Smith and coach let me do it. Quite easily could have been out first over but didn't really matter as I thought that is the right way to go. Nice to start the series like this. It was a tough day for us yesterday, was able to do so a couple of years ago in Brisbane. First game of the series, sets the tone. Not a great day yesterday and we have won already today. Feel sorry for the 60000 that were due to come in tomorrow. Looking forward to Brisbane. I did (expect the short ball). They are a serious bowling outfit, just tried to play the sides and play down breeze. Worked today. Could feel the momentum once I got to 50-60, knew I will be tested in all the departments opening the batting. Have got a couple of 90s here, wasted a couple. Can be a lovely place to bat and at the same time intimidating. Cast your mind to last year, day 4 can be tough here against the likes of Wood, Carse and Archer with all the cracks. I'm not good at getting red inks (staying not out), there have been a couple of occasions. Looking forward to get back to the family and celebrate, it is Ashes. Then we will go down to Brisbane and if this is something to go by, it will be a hell of a series."

England 172 and 164
Australia 132 and 205/2

Australia win by 8 wickets
Lead 5-match series 1-0

Following a truly insane yet spectacular opening day, which witnessed 19 wickets tumble and left fans and pundits confounded in equal measure, Day 2 has been just as phenomenal despite being dissimilar. England looked to be well on top with a lead of 99 runs at lunch, having lost a single wicket, but the Aussie bowlers struck immediately after the break.  Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope looked well set, but Boland struck form while Doggett got the breakthrough from the other end.

The Aussies never looked to be in trouble, even as the wicket appeared to have magically transformed.  Travis Head turned the contest on its head by opening the innings in place of Usman Khawaja and was ably supported by Marnus Labuschagne. A contest to remember with 19 wickets falling on the opening day before England collapsed for a second time on Day 2. The Aussies, who were expected to face a stiff challenge chasing 205, made it to the finishing line in style with Travis Head exhibiting a range of aggressive shots laced with a hint of sheer arrogance and disdain on occasion.  Head scored the third-fastest hundred for the Aussies (in 69 balls) to pave the way for a memorable and astonishing win.

England will rue the fact that they squandered a distinct advantage but couldn't have prepared themselves for the kind of innings that Travis Head came up with. 

Australia win the first test - a match that will go down in history as one of the most remarkable, entertaining and engrossing contests in Ashes history!!

28.2 Brydon Carse to Steven Smith, FOUR, AUSTRALIA WIN! This will go down as one of the most famous Ashes win and Australia have made a mockery of the total in the end as the go 1-0 in the 5-match series. Just took 28.2 overs for the hosts to knock off the target of 205, this test match has not even lasted 6 sessions in total. The entire Aussie camp is chuffed to bits, they were looking down and out at one stage earlier in the day but boy have they turned it around and how. 

27.6 Joe Root to Marnus Labuschagne, SIX AND THE SCORES ARE LEVEL. That will also be the fifty for Marnus Labuschagne who has been under the shadow of Head so far, he has notched up a crucial fifty for himself as well. Jumped out of the crease, got to the pitch and swung it all the way over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

27.4 Joe Root to Marnus Labuschagne, JUST PAST ARCHER and it is down to single digits now. Skips down the track and has a waft at it, his one hand came off the bat handle but there was enough contact to take it away from Archer's right hand at mid-off.

27.2 Joe Root to Marnus Labuschagne, on a length around off, Labuschagne gets inside the line and works it in front of square on the leg side for a single