A Rare Two-Day Test After 100 Years
The Perth Ashes Test of 2025/26 produced a historic result, becoming only the sixth Ashes Test ever to finish inside two days, and the first such instance in Australia. The last time an Ashes match ended within two days was in 1921 at Trent Bridge, making this the first in more than a century.
Ashes Tests Ending Inside Two Days:
- Lord’s, 1888
- The Oval, 1888
- Manchester, 1888
- The Oval, 1890
- Nottingham, 1921
- Perth, 2025
Shortest Ashes Tests by Balls Bowled
The match saw just 847 balls bowled, making it the third-shortest Ashes Test ever and the shortest on Australian soil. Only two Tests from the 1888 series were shorter.
| Balls | Venue | Season | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 788 | Old Trafford | 1888 | England |
| 792 | Lord’s | 1888 | Australia |
| 847 | Perth | 2025/26 | Australia |
| 911 | SCG | 1894/95 | Australia |
| 1034 | Gabba | 1950/51 | Australia |
England faced just 405 balls across both innings, making it their third-shortest combined effort in a double dismissal Test match.
Australia’s Record-Breaking Run Chase
Australia chased 205 runs at a rate of 7.23 RPO, the highest run rate ever in a successful chase of 200+ in Test history. It took them only 28.2 overs, breaking England’s 2022 record of 5.98 RPO at Trent Bridge.
This match also became just the fourth instance in Test cricket where all three initial innings ended under 200 before a team successfully chased 200+.
England’s Perth Curse Continues
England’s defeat marked their ninth consecutive loss in Perth, across both the WACA and the new Perth Stadium. This was their first match at Perth Stadium, and the first time a team lost here after batting first.
Travis Head’s Explosive Fourth-Innings Century
Fastest Opening Hundred in Test History (Joint Record)
Travis Head smashed a 69-ball century, equaling the record for the fastest hundred by an opening batter in Test cricket (David Warner, 2012).
Fastest Test Centuries by Balls Faced
| Balls | Player | Opponent | Venue | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 54 | Brendon McCullum | Australia | Christchurch | 2015/16 |
| 56 | Viv Richards | England | St John's | 1985/86 |
| 56 | Misbah-ul-Haq | Australia | Abu Dhabi | 2014/15 |
| 57 | Adam Gilchrist | England | Perth | 2006/07 |
| 67 | Jack Gregory | South Africa | Johannesburg | 1921/22 |
| 69 | Shivnarine Chanderpaul | Australia | Georgetown | 2002/03 |
| 69 | David Warner | India | Perth | 2011/12 |
| 69 | Travis Head | England | Perth | 2025/26 |
This is also:
- The fastest fourth-innings century in Test history, beating Gilbert Jessop’s 76-ball effort (1902).
- The highest fourth-innings score by an opener in an Ashes Test in the 21st century (123 runs).
Bowling Highlights
Starc’s 10-Wicket Haul
Mitchell Starc took 10/113 (7/58 & 3/55), becoming:
- The first Australian since Shane Warne (2005) to take a 10-fer in the Ashes.
- The first Australian fast bowler since Craig McDermott (1991) to achieve the feat.
Other Statistical Highlights
- Zak Crawley became the fourth English opener to score a pair in Ashes history.
- Scott Boland, with 1639 balls, became the fastest to 50 Test wickets on Australian soil.