A moment of fast bowling brilliance Mitchell Starc The match turned decisively in Australia’s favor on the third day of the Adelaide Test as the left-hander bowled a sensational delivery to dismiss the England captain. ben stokes And prevent a dangerous partnership during the Ashes 2025-26 series.
Mitchell Starc bowled Ben Stokes with a ripper
On the first ball of the 85th over, Starc bowled the ball at a speed of 143.6 km per hour which turned rapidly. Stokes, trying to force the ball on the off side, failed to account for the late movement. A large gap opened between the bat and the pad, due to which the ball entered and hit the off stump. The crowd went wild when Starc punched the air in celebration after breaking the crucial century partnership.
Meanwhile, Stokes looked quite angry at himself. He jumped onto the crease in disbelief, threw his bat skyward and walked back angrily, knowing that he had missed a potentially match-deciding century. The dismissal, which was captured on video and shared widely online, immediately became one of the standout moments of the series.
Here is the video:
Oh my god, what a seed Mitch Stark is!#ash , #PlayoftheDay , @nrmainsurance pic.twitter.com/1z4idDsklT
– cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) 19 December 2025
England were out for 286 runs after a struggling innings.
Despite Starc’s success, England showed resilience in the first session, eventually being bowled out for 286. Captain Stokes played a vital role, scoring 83 runs, taking over the innings and leading from the front when England were under pressure.
they received valuable support jofra archerWho made a vital contribution of 51 runs, which ensured that England avoided defeat and remained competitive in the competition. However, Australia’s disciplined bowling attack prevented the guests from reaching much larger scores.
To the hosts, Captain pat cummins Led admirably with the ball and finished with figures of 3/69 Scott Boland The 3/45, boasting its trademark accuracy and relentless line and length, was equally impressive. Their combined efforts ensured that Australia took a significant lead of 85 runs in the first innings.
Australia has the lead before tea
Australia maintained the momentum in the second innings as well, batting with authority and composure. By tea on the third day, the hosts had reached 119/2, taking their overall lead to 204 runs.
travis head Playing with freedom and intent, he once again proved his importance in Adelaide conditions, remaining unbeaten on 68 runs. at the other extreme, Usman Khawaja Provided stability, remaining unbeaten on 27, as the pair frustrated the English bowlers with a confident and controlled partnership.
