PERTH :Australia's Travis Head got another chance to open the batting in a test match on Saturday and made the absolute most of it with one of the great Ashes centuries to drive the hosts to an eight-wicket win over England in the five-match series opener.

The 31-year-old, who habitually tops the order in short formats for his country, said he regularly asks to open the batting but was not a nailed-on certainty even when Usman Khawaja injured his back and was not able to go out.

"It's been brewing for a bit. I thought it was the right opportunity to do it," he told reporters after scoring an astonishing 83-ball 123 to help his side to a two-day triumph.

Stand-in skipper Steve Smith was full of praise for his makeshift opener, who was given the nod to open in the final innings after Marn

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