With regular opener Usman Khawaja struggling with back spasms and the hosts tasked with chasing 205 on a difficult pitch, Head was promoted to the top of the order for the second innings. He blasted 123 off 83 balls as Australia won by eight wickets inside two days.

This was a rare day in modern Ashes history down under as England began it in the ascendancy, but a horror afternoon session ceded the momentum and Australia charged into a series lead before sunset.

Mitchell Starc with 10 wickets in this Ashes Test.