Australia’s Travis Head has etched his name into Ashes history by scoring his third century of the ongoing 2025-26 Ashes series. Head reached this milestone on the third day of the fifth and final Test against England at the Sydney Cricket Ground, taking just 18 balls into Day 3 to complete his 12th Test century. The right-handed opener’s knock of 100 was brought up with a boundary off the bowling of Josh Tongue, and the Sydney crowd erupted in applause as Head raised his bat in celebration.
This century marks a remarkable achievement for the 32-year-old, who has now scored three centuries in a single Ashes series, joining an exclusive list of legendary openers: Matthew Hayden, Sir Alastair Cook, and Michael Vaughan. These cricketers are the only ones in the 21st century to have scored three tons in a single Ashes series.
A Memorable Ashes Campaign
Head’s Ashes 2025-26 campaign has been nothing short of spectacular. With 600 runs in nine innings at an impressive average of 66.66 and a strike rate of 87.59, he has been the backbone of Australia’s batting. His first century came in the second innings of the Perth Test, helping Australia secure a 1-0 lead. He followed it up with another century in the second innings at Adelaide, where Australia claimed a comfortable victory.
In the ongoing Sydney Test, Head was eventually dismissed for a brilliant 163 off 166 balls. His innings, which included 24 fours and a six, further cemented his position as one of Australia’s top run-scorers in the series.
The Fifth-Fastest 150 in Ashes History
Head’s dominance at the crease also saw him achieve the fifth-fastest 150 in Ashes history, reaching the landmark in just 152 balls. His ability to accelerate in a Test match has been a standout feature of his batting, making him a nightmare for England’s bowlers.
England’s Joe Root, who has been one of the few players to challenge Head’s supremacy in this series, praised Head’s remarkable hand-eye coordination and aggressive style of play. Root acknowledged that Head’s ability to find scoring opportunities from both sides of the wicket made it tough for bowlers to maintain pressure for long periods.
“He’s got such incredible hand-eye coordination. He’s very good at putting bowlers under pressure at the right time and making it very difficult to build a sustained period of pressure over the partnership,” Root said, adding, “He’s always looking to throw punches back in his own way. And he’s got a very clear method of how he wants to do it and trusts it.”
An Elite Group
With his third century in this Ashes series, Head has joined a select group of cricketers who have achieved this feat. In addition to Head, only Vaughan, Cook, and Hayden have scored three centuries in a single Ashes series in the modern era. His consistency has been key to Australia’s dominant performance in the ongoing series, with his 600 runs currently 206 runs ahead of England’s next-best batsman, Joe Root, who has scored 394 runs.
Head’s series performances have not only helped Australia build a solid lead in the Ashes but also placed him in the elite ranks of Test cricket, showcasing his ability to thrive under pressure and in the longest format of the game.
