Summary

  • First Test, day two, Perth

  • Australia win by eight wickets to take 1-0 lead in five-match series

  • Head hits amazing 123 off 83 balls to lead hosts to astonishing win

  • England collapse from 65-1 to 164 all out in second innings to set only 205 for victory

  • Controversy around dismissal of England's Smith

  • Player ratings

  • Highlights available from 17:00 GMT on BBC iPlayer

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Live Reporting

by Timothy Abraham & Mike Peter

  1. Srinivas Vijaykumar
    CricViz analyst

    This is only the ninth time Travis Head has opened the batting in Tests.

    He averages 45.9 as an opener compared to his overall career average of 41.5.

  2. Phil Tufnell
    Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    When does Ben Stokes bring himself on?

  3. Aus 2-0

    Travis Head faces five balls without scoring before turning Jofra Archer's last delivery behind square for two.

    That's the first runs scored by an opening partnership in this match.

  4. Phil Tufnell
    Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    Australia have sent out the two Bazballers to open. Will Australia bat as poorly as they did yesterday?

    England will need to get a few quick ones.

  5. Aus 0-0

    Target 205

    Right, time to get going again.

    Usman Khawaja is once again unavailable to bat - Marnus Labuschagne was promoted from number three in the first innings, but this time it's Travis Head who's moved up from five to partner debutant Jake Weatherald.

    Jofra Archer has the ball in hand for England, and Head lets his first delivery go through to the keeper.

  6. How's stat?!

    In the five previous Tests at the Perth Stadium no team chasing in the fourth innings has emerged victorious.

    The highest fourth-innings total is the 333 made by West Indies in 2022 and the lowest is the 89 made by Pakistan in 2023.

  7. If you're just joining us, Australia will chase 205 to win the first Ashes Test in Perth after England were bowled out for 164 in the afternoon session of day two.

    Zak Crawley was dismissed for a duck, his second of the match, with the fifth ball of the innings, but Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope put on 65 either side of lunch.

    From there, England lost nine wickets for 99 runs, including their middle-order of Pope, Harry Brook and Joe Root without adding a run.

    Brydon Carse and Gus Atkinson, who top-scored with 37 and was the last wicket to fall, put on 50 for the eighth wicket, while Jamie Smith was given out from a controversial review.

  8. Soham Sarkhel
    CricViz analyst

    There have been 60 partnerships where one of England's last three wickets has put on 50 or more runs in an Ashes Test in Australia. Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse's partnership was the first one that came at a rate better than run-a-ball.

  9. How's stat?!

    Andy Zaltzman
    Test Match Special statistician

    England bowled out in under 35 overs in both innings. There's only been eight other times in Test history that a team has been bowled out in fewer than 35 overs in both innings.

  10. Thanks Tim.

    They are indeed suitably refreshed and ready for the possibility of 10 Australian wickets.

  11. Tea...

    Phew... I might have RSI after all that. Nine wickets in a session. NINE!

    That's tea by the way.

    Hopefully Mike Peter's fingers are fresh. He'll pick up the baton from here.

  12. Simon Mann
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    Australia have seen England's five man pace attack now. Will they be able to counter it?

  13. Glenn McGrath
    Ex-Australia bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Wow, what's going to happen after tea. I'm keen to see if Australia will bat with more intent. That partnership of Brydon Carse and Gus Atkinson has just put England in a strong position.

  14. Simon Mann
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    That's it! Gus Atkinson has picked out Brendan Doggett and Australia know their task now, they need 205 to win. One big hit too many for England.

  15. wicket

    WICKET

    Atkinson c Doggett b Boland 37

    Gus Atkinson's luck against the short ball runs out.

    Scott Boland bangs it in angled across him and Atkinson attempts to help it on its way but ends finding the hands of Brendan Doggett down at fine leg on the rope.

    England all out for 164. Nine wickets in the afternoon session. Yes, nine...

  16. Get Involved

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    For all of the rightful criticism of England’s careless batting after lunch, Australia will still need to hit the highest score of the Test to win. We just need another bowling masterclass. Simple, right?

    Jack

    Why are the tail not trying to block and let Gus Atkinson bat? He's playing nicely!

    Anon

  17. Simon Mann
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    That's Mark Wood at his best, taking it on. He knew it was going to be short and it was just a hack into legside.

  18. Eng 164-9

    This breathless game continues to move on at real pace.

    Mark Wood gets off the mark by smashing Brendan Doggett across the line for four.

  19. Glenn McGrath
    Ex-Australia bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Better directed from Brendan Doggett, it wasn't as wide. Steve Smith has got a great pair of hands so as son as he got underneath it, it was taken.

    These tailend English batters are really backing themselves.

  20. wicket

    WICKET

    Archer c Smith b Doggett 5 (Eng 160-9)

    A filthy hack by Jofra Archer off Brendan Doggett and he spoons it up to Steve Smith in the ring on the on side.

    Smith backpedals and takes a good catch.