Travis Head's remarkable century led Australia to a decisive victory over England in the first Test in Perth, leaving England's players and fans in disbelief. Ben Stokes, England's captain, expressed his shock at the outcome, stating he felt "a little bit shell-shocked" after Australia turned the match around.

Head's performance was pivotal, as he helped Australia recover from a challenging position to secure a commanding win. Former England captain Michael Vaughan criticized England's batting strategy, which resulted in two significant collapses during the match. He lamented, "It disappoints me hugely. In 2023, the first Test match at Edgbaston, England was dominating... then they went to Lord's... dumb cricket, get bowled out, England 2-0 down."

At one point, England held a 99-run lead with nine wickets in hand, but a series of poor shot selections led to a rapid decline. England went from 1-65 to 6-88 in just over eight overs, ultimately being bowled out for a mere 204 runs. This followed a first innings collapse where they lost five wickets for just 12 runs in 18 balls.

Vaughan and others expressed frustration over the team's approach, calling for a more strategic batting style. He noted, "We've been saying we want 'Bazball with brains' but the brains haven't arrived. They're all trying to whack it to the boundary, it's so disappointing."

The dismissals of key players like Ollie Pope, Harry Brook, and Joe Root were particularly criticized. Each fell to similar reckless shots, leading to a swift loss of three wickets in just five deliveries. Stuart Broad's reaction on air reflected the sentiments of many fans, as he visibly reacted to the team's poor performance.

While England's batting was under scrutiny, the bowlers also faced criticism. After a strong first innings, where they averaged 141 kph, the pace attack faltered. Jofra Archer and Mark Wood struggled to maintain their rhythm, allowing Head and Marnus Labuschagne to dominate the game.

Head's innings was described as "one of the best knocks" by Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum. McCullum acknowledged the pressure Head put on England's bowlers, stating, "He knocked us off our lengths when we wanted to hold our lengths as long as we could."

Looking ahead, England faces a challenging pink-ball Test at the Gabba in December. Vaughan emphasized the importance of preparation, saying, "If England don't think that's good preparation... they're absolutely stupid." McCullum, however, insisted the team would stick to its strategy, aiming to maintain confidence and camaraderie.

Stokes acknowledged the need for the team to process the defeat, stating, "This is a tough one to start with, given we felt in control of the game. We have to let this sink in. It's hurting at the moment but we have to get our head round it and get to Brisbane."

As England reflects on this defeat, questions about their batting and bowling strategies will linger as they prepare for the next match in Brisbane, which could be crucial for the series and the players' futures.