PERTH (Reuters) -Australia's Travis Head got another chance to open the batting in a test match on Saturday and made the absolute most of it with one of the great Ashes centuries to drive the hosts to an eight-wicket win over England in the five-match series opener.

The 31-year-old, who habitually tops the order in short formats for his country, said he regularly asks to open the batting but was not a nailed-on certainty even when Usman Khawaja injured his back and was not able to go out.