Head's 154 not out helps Australia thrash England

Australia have thrashed England by 275 runs in the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston after Travis Head's brilliant 154 not out helped the tourists to a mammoth first-innings total of 425.

Head's innings was the cornerstone of Australia's dominance, with the left-hander batting for more than seven hours and hitting 18 fours and three sixes. He was particularly severe on England's spinners, taking 23 runs off Jack Leach in a single over.

Head's century was his second in Test cricket and followed his match-winning innings of 112 in the recent Ashes warm-up match against Worcestershire. The 28-year-old is now averaging 45.50 in Test cricket, with two centuries and five half-centuries in 14 matches.

Head's innings was supported by fifties from David Warner (94), Marnus Labuschagne (74), and Steve Smith (53), as Australia batted England out of the game on the first two days of the match.

England's bowlers toiled hard, but they were unable to make any inroads into the Australian batting line-up. James Anderson, Stuart Broad, and Mark Wood all took two wickets each, but they were expensive, with Anderson and Broad conceding more than 100 runs each.

In reply, England were bowled out for just 147 in their first innings, with Pat Cummins taking 5-38. Joe Root was the only England batsman to offer any resistance, making 57, but he was unable to prevent his team from slumping to a heavy defeat.

Australia enforced the follow-on, and England were bowled out for 267 in their second innings, with Cummins taking another four wickets. Head took two wickets with his part-time off-spin, and Nathan Lyon claimed the final wicket to wrap up the victory.

The win gives Australia a 1-0 lead in the five-match Ashes series. The second Test begins at Lord's on August 14.