In a dominant display during the first ODI of the five-match series, Australia’s left-handed opener Travis Head played a stunning unbeaten knock of 154* off just 129 balls, guiding his team to a comfortable seven-wicket win over England.
Head’s innings included 20 boundaries and five sixes, marking the highest individual score by an Australian in an ODI against England on English soil.
Chasing a target of 316, Australia reached 317/3 with six overs to spare, riding on Head’s brilliance and strong support from Marnus Labuschagne, who also contributed significantly with 77* off 61 balls. The two put on an unbroken 148-run partnership, steering Australia to victory despite missing key players like Josh Hazlewood and Glenn Maxwell due to illness, and losing debutant Ben Dwarshuis to injury after he bowled just four overs.
Earlier, England posted a total of 315 in 49.4 overs, largely driven by Ben Duckett’s 95 (91 balls) and Will Jacks’ 62 (56 balls). Duckett’s dismissal came when he offered a tame caught-and-bowled chance to Labuschagne, who shone with the ball as well, finishing with his best ODI figures of 3/39 from six overs. Adam Zampa also chipped in, claiming 3/49 to help restrict England.
Australia’s bowling attack made early inroads, with Dwarshuis clean-bowling Phil Salt for 17 before leaving the field with a strained pectoral muscle. Labuschagne also dismissed stand-in captain Harry Brook for 39, alongside the late wickets of Jofra Archer and others, slowing England’s momentum.
With this win, Australia extended their streak to 13 consecutive ODI victories across all opponents.
