Opener Head scored the second-fastest Ashes century from 69 balls as Australia claimed an eight-wicket victory.

England suffered another Ashes nightmare Down Under after falling to a humiliating two-day defeat in the first Test against Australia.

A two-month tour that began with high hopes of regaining the urn just 48 hours earlier lurched towards a brutal eight-wicket loss that was their fastest since their last two-day capitulation in 1921.

England’s error-prone batting was found wanting for the second day in a row as they tossed away a strong position and opened the door to a thrashing at the hands of 69-ball centurion Travis Head.

Sterling work by their pace attack somehow turned their day one effort of 172 into a first-innings lead of 40, and just after lunch that had swelled to 1

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