Head hits 'wonderful' century to put Australia firmly in control

England may well have lost this Ashes anyway. They have barely done anything to suggest otherwise over the past month.

But rather than English preparation decisions or selection meetings, was it a conversation in the Australia dressing room at tea on day two of the first Test that first set the course of this series?

Australia needed an opener in Perth when Usman Khawaja was struck down by back spasms and up went Travis Head's hand.

"It can't be that hard, let's get after them," he said.