Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc dealt a significant blow to England captain Ben Stokes by dismissing him on the first day of the first Ashes 2025-26 Test in Perth (Friday, November 21). The left-handed batsman was left stunned when Starc hit his stump through the gap in the bat and the clip quickly gained attention on social media.
Starc is leading the fast bowling attack in the absence of experienced bowlers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. The left-arm fast bowler set the tone by dismissing Jack Crawley for a duck in the first over. He dismissed Ben Duckett and Joe Root in his first spell in the morning session. Starc took three wickets for 17 runs in six overs.
WATCH: Ben Stokes left stunned when Mitchell Starc breaks his off stump
After the lunch break, Mitchell Starc took another wicket in his first spell. After the fall of the initial wicket, Ben Stokes continued under pressure. Starc had set him up with an outswinger, and that had thrown the England captain off balance.
Stokes pushed through the line, keeping a gap between the bat and the pad, and the ball bounced after hitting the middle and off. The wobbly-seam delivery was pitched on a length outside off, straightened late and shattered the stumps.
Stokes had to go back to the dressing room after scoring 6 runs, leaving England at 115 for five in 25 overs. Starc was ecstatic as he continued to demolish England’s top order. He took his fourth wicket so far in England’s first innings.
Watch the video below of Starc dismissing Stokes in Perth:
Mitch Starc saw it! Which ball to bowl out Ben Stokes? #ash , #PlayoftheDay , @nrmainsurance pic.twitter.com/PehDst540x
– cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) 21 November 2025
Mitchell Starc completes the feat of taking five wickets in Perth Test
Ben Stokes has faced Mitchell Starc in 22 innings in Test cricket. In this head-to-head battle, Stokes has scored 190 runs against him in 304 balls at an average of just 19 and a strike rate just above 62. Starc has dismissed the left-handed batsman 10 times in the longer format.
Mitchell Starc completed his five-wicket haul after dismissing Gus Atkinson, who pushed the ball loose outside off. Steve Smith completed a sharp low catch at second slip. This was his fifth five-wicket haul against England and the 17th of his Test career.
At the time of writing, England are in trouble at 167-7 after 31 overs. Debutant Brendan Doggett took his first wicket by dismissing Harry Brook. Wicketkeeper-batsmen Jamie Smith and Brydon Carse are at the crease as the visitors look to post a competitive score.
England captain Ben Stokes decided to bat first after winning the toss in Perth.
The first Test began with England winning the toss at the Optus Stadium. England left out off-spinner Shoaib Bashir and chose a complete pace attack comprising Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson and Mark Wood. With Stokes fit to bowl again, the visitors assembled a strong fast bowling unit.
Australia had confirmed its eleven a day earlier. Following injuries to Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, Brendan Doggett made his Test debut, while Scott Boland joined as the second seamer. Jake Weatherald, who was named to open the innings with Usman Khawaja, also made his debut.
England have entered this match with the intention of breaking the long-running drought in Australia. They have not won a Test there since 2011 and have not won 13 of their last 15 Ashes contests on Australian soil.
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