Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc registered his name in the record books on the first day (Friday, November 21) of the first Ashes 2025-26 Test against England. Starc became the first left-arm fast bowler to complete 100 wickets in Ashes history after dismissing former England captain Joe Root for a duck in the morning session.
In Perth, Ben Stokes won the toss and decided to bat first. England dropped off-spinner Shoaib Bashir and opted for an all-out pace attack in their eleven. Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson and Mark Wood formed the fast bowling unit. Meanwhile, Australia handed debuts to Brendan Doggett and Jake Weatherald.
Mitchell Starc dismissed Joe Root for a duck in the opener of Ashes 2025-26
Joe Root came in early after Ben Duckett was out in the seventh over. Mitchell Starc had already set the tone by dismissing Jack Crawley in the opening over. England briefly steadied themselves with some counter-attacks.
Root, who struggled in Australian conditions before the series, looked uncomfortable from the beginning. He almost edged his second ball and continued to struggle for control as Starc continued to test him with pace outside the surface.
Starc bowled a ball that went straight down the leg-stump line and Root attempted to look it away but only managed to expose the outside edge. The catch went straight to Marnus Labuschagne at third slip and Root had to return to the dressing room without opening his account.
Mitchell Starc took his 100th wicket against England! #milestonemoment , #ash , @nrmainsurance pic.twitter.com/vItwfdCK3X
– cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) 21 November 2025
Mitchell Starc becomes the first left-arm fast bowler to take 100 wickets in the Ashes.
Mitchell Starc became the 21st bowler and the first left-arm fast bowler to take 100 wickets in the Ashes. His strike rate of 44.8 is the best among all bowlers who have crossed the 100 wicket mark.
Among left-arm fast bowlers, Mitchell Johnson is next in the list with 87 wickets. Starc has averaged 100 wickets in 23 Test matches against England in the mid-20s, including four five-wicket hauls and a best of 6/111.
Stark presented his
What a way for Australia’s experienced left-hander to achieve a magical milestone – dismissing England’s greatest ever batsman in Joe Root.
Nathan Lyon (110) is the only other active player to have taken more wickets #ash wicket pic.twitter.com/LXBVhhn60S
– Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) 21 November 2025
In Australia, the 35-year-old has taken over 43 wickets at an impressive average in 10 Ashes matches, including five-fors. He has taken 56 more wickets in 13 matches in England, including three five-wicket hauls.
Starc has taken 405 wickets in 101 matches at an average of over 27, including 16 five-wicket hauls and 20 four-wicket hauls. With the bat, he has scored more than 2,300 runs with 11 fifties.
Complete list of bowlers who have taken more than 100 Ashes wickets:
| Post | bowler | Wicket |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shane Warne (Australia) | 195 |
| 2 | Glenn McGrath (Australia) | 157 |
| 3 | Stuart Broad (England) | 153 |
| 4 | Hugh Trumbull (Australia) | 141 |
| 5 | Dennis Lillee (Australia) | 128 |
| 6 | Ian Botham (England) | 128 |
| 7 | Bob Willis (England) | 123 |
| 8 | James Anderson (England) | 117 |
| 9 | Monty Noble (Australia) | 115 |
| 10 | Ray Lindwall (Australia) | 114 |
| 11 | Nathan Lyon (Australia) | 110 |
| 12 | Wilfred Rhodes (England) | 109 |
| 13 | Sydney Barnes (England) | 106 |
| 14 | Clary Grimmett (Australia) | 106 |
| 15 | Alec Bedser (England) | 104 |
| 16 | Bill O’Reilly (Australia) | 102 |
| 17 | George Giffen (Australia) | 101 |
| 18 | Charlie Turner (Australia) | 101 |
| 19 | Bobby Peel (England) | 101 |
| 20 | Terry Alderman (Australia) | 100 |
| 21 | Mitchell Starc (Australia) | 100+ |
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