NEW DELHI: Travis Head did exactly what he is known for in the first Ashes Test against England in Perth - producing an exceptional innings when the odds were stacked heavily against Australia.

Head arguably played the best innings of his Test career so far, blasting 123 off 83 balls as Australia cruised home in just 28.2 overs while chasing 205. Australian media reported that it was the first time since 1921 that an Ashes Test was completed in just two days.

Geoffrey Boycott explodes: 'Brainless cricket' - Legend rips into England after two-day Ashes humiliation

Lauding Head's astonishing knock, former India head coach Ravi Shastri highlighted his ability to deliver special innings at crucial moments - something he had also done two years ago against India in the ODI World Cup final in Ahmedabad and in the World Test Championship (WTC) final in the same year.

"Travis Head... two years ago, you plunged my country into silence. And today, you have done it again, in the best format of the game, in blistering fashion, with one of the great innings. Take a bow. England... that was special,' Shastri wrote on X.

Head turned England's attack-at-all-costs "Bazball" tactics back on the visitors, clobbering a century from 69 deliveries after being promoted up the order to open the innings when Usman Khawaja was injured.

"That innings from Travis Head was out of this world," Australia captain Steve Smith said.

England captain Ben Stokes said his team was "a little bit shell shocked," and described Head's innings as "phenomenal."

Australia extended their unbeaten run in home Ashes Tests to 16. England have not won a Test in Australia since winning the 2010-11 series.