Mitchell Starc, the veteran and stalwart of the Australian pace attack currently in Perth, performed well when it mattered most. Although the game has just started, Starc’s career-best bowling has given the Australians the lead on the very first day.
England and Australia begin their Ashes campaign on Friday, November 21 in Perth. Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood and captain Pat Cummins were out before the first Test, dealing a blow to Australia’s campaign.
Steve Smith was selected as Australia’s stand-in captain for the first Test, with Pat Cummins back in the nets and aiming for a comeback ahead of the next game in the Ashes.
Mitchell Starc breaks the back of England’s batsmen with career-best figures in Perth
With Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood not playing in the first Test, Bazball seemed quite happy as he will not have to face the dangerous Australian trio. However, they could not succeed in keeping Mitchell Starc away from the game.
One of the strongest and most experienced members of this trio, Mitchell Starc has played Test matches for Australia for almost two decades. He is often described as the greatest of Australian fast bowlers in modern cricket and has over 400 Test wickets.
In his career, he has taken 735 international wickets across all three formats of the game. He produced the best performance of his career against the West Indies in the second innings of the third Test in the Caribbean, where he took 6 wickets for just 9 runs.
He has now surpassed the previous record by taking 7 wickets against England for the first time in his red-ball career. He is playing his 101st red-ball game and has broken the back of the English batsmen with most crucial successes.
On such a helpful track, England’s fast bowlers will also unite against the Australian team.
Mitchell Starc took 7/58 in the first innings and showed what Australia were capable of, even if they were missing two of their most experienced fast bowlers. But England have no shortage, they are at full strength with Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse.
Although Ben Stokes’ role with the ball is under a lot of doubt, the England fast bowler would also like to bowl on this track. Archer dismissed debutant Australian opener Jack Wetherald on the very third ball of his spell.
With veteran Australian red-ball cricketers Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith at the crease, the England fast bowlers still remain a threat, as Smith and Labuschagne are yet to break their shackles and suffered some serious injuries early in the innings.
“No Cummins, no Hazlewood, no problem, says Mitchell Starc. Fans are thrilled to see the old Mitchell Starc
Mitchell Starc says no Cummins, no Hazlewood, no problem…7/58 Good bowling to start the Ashes with aggressive spells #Ashes2025 #AUSvsENG pic.twitter.com/Ligv6IKzOd
– DIVINE_SOUL (@hellosuraj222) 21 November 2025
Mitchell Starc stands strong in the absence of his fellow fast bowlers, bowling a blistering 7-fer that shakes England’s ‘buzzball’ from the very first over!
#oldest river It’s getting hot!#AUSvENG #theshes , pic.twitter.com/ahTU8B8m3M
– Rinku Yadav (@yadavrinku2025) 21 November 2025
3/5 ✓ Better than Warne and McGrath?
Mitchell Starc now has the best bowling strike rate (44.8) among all 21 bowlers who have taken 100-plus Ashes wickets! This means he takes wickets against England faster than Warne, McGrath or Lillee. Let us understand this. …
– Asifkhan Pathan (@imAsif2612) 21 November 2025
Twitter has changed the like button to celebrate Mitchell Starc taking 100 wickets in Test cricket.
Tap to check #Ashes2025 pic.twitter.com/Q21kcWf7hR
– Political News (@Ku66773697Sumit) 21 November 2025
EXCLUSIVE: STARK – Aging like a fine wine!
State confirmed! At the age of 35, Mitchell Starc has taken an unprecedented 36 wickets in just 8 Tests in 2025!
A pure masterclass from the experienced quirk. Invincible force!
Let’s go here! Stark’s year is one for the ages! pic.twitter.com/eAgimkXsm9– Fabrizio Romano Cricket (@AabhasDeog67430) 21 November 2025
No Hazlewood, no Cummins even without Boland’s contribution in bowling
I have no words for this huge world of sports. Mitchell Starc you are the embodiment of the beast– strong (@chilipaneer18) 21 November 2025
Many more to follow…
Also read: Mitchell Starc completes Ashes century in Perth Test, dismisses Joe Root for duck
