Left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc took 10 wickets during the first Ashes 2025-26 Test between Australia and England at the Optus Stadium in Perth on Saturday, November 22. After gaining the lead in the first innings, the experienced bowler played a vital role with the ball to bring the home team back into the contest.
In the post-lunch session, Starc dismissed key batsmen Joe Root and Ben Stokes in quick succession. Meanwhile, Scott Boland started the collapse by dismissing Ben Duckett, who scored 28 runs from 40 balls. Starc and Boland took three wickets each in the session, reducing the visitors to 88/6 in 24.4 overs.
Mitchell Starc completed the feat of taking 10 wickets in the first match of Ashes 2025-26.
In the second innings of England, Mitchell Starc dismissed Ben Stokes on the fourth ball of the 25th over. Starc completed a brilliant 10 wickets. The England captain tried to defend a delivery into the fourth stump channel, but a hint of late movement exposed him and produced an outside edge.
Steve Smith, posted at second slip, took the catch cleanly. Stokes had to go back to the dressing room after scoring just two runs. This was the 11th time in Test cricket that Starc had dismissed him and the second time in the current match. Starc picked up the ball and celebrated a fine achievement.
10FA for Stark
What a match for the Australian left-handed star. He dismissed Ben Stokes for the eleventh time in Test cricket and England are now reduced to 6/88.
Live Blog https://t.co/h7Tdw2z89w pic.twitter.com/2j1SKVgIef
– Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) 22 November 2025
10 wickets for the match!
Brilliant, Mitch Stark.#ash , #milestonemoment , @nrmainsurance pic.twitter.com/mMznMiumtS
– cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) 22 November 2025
Mitchell Starc dismissed Joe Root twice in the opener of Ashes 2025-26
Joe Root pulled the ball from Mitchell Starc onto his stumps. The ball was pitched outside off and Root reached for the drive which was not in his hitting zone. The inside edge troubled the off stump, leaving Root looking quite frustrated. Starc celebrates his ninth wicket in the match.
Root has now become a left arm fast bowler 10 times in Test cricket. Josh Hazlewood has also dismissed Root 10 times, while Pat Cummins and Jasprit Bumrah have dismissed him 11 times each.
Another big attack from Stark
The route was dragged out, the pressure was mounting, the momentum was shifting Australia’s way.The drama of Ashes is increasing.#AUSvENG ash First Test Day 2 , live now pic.twitter.com/mmtS1YUyI2
– Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) 22 November 2025
Root has scored 349 Test runs against Starc in 639 balls at an average of 34.9 and a strike rate just above 54. Notably, the left-arm pacer had dismissed him for a duck in the first innings.
Mitchell Starc becomes the first Australian pacer to take 10 wickets…
Mitchell Starc defeated England’s batting lineup in the first innings, taking 7 wickets for 58 runs in just 12.5 overs. He returned in the second innings and took three more wickets, completing a memorable 10-wicket haul in the series opener.
Starc became only the 25th Australian to take 10 wickets in a home Ashes Test, and the first Australian fast bowler to do so on home soil since Craig McDermott at the WACA in 1991. No Australian has achieved this feat in any Ashes Test since Shane Warne’s performance at The Oval in 2005.
England let the match slip away by playing careless shots during the afternoon session. Poor decision-making by the Ben Stokes-led side gave Australia a chance to make a comeback and the hosts took full advantage of it.
Also read: Joe Root injured during warm-up during Perth Ashes Test; Panic in the England camp
