Published: Nov 21, 2025, 10:27 AM (IST)
Edited: Nov 21, 2025, 12:30 PM (IST)
In the opening Test of the Ashes series against England in Perth, Mitchell Starc gave Australia a flawless start. The home crowd erupted when the left-arm pacer removed England opener Zak Crawley on the final ball of the first over. Starc went on to become the first left-arm bowler in Ashes history to reach 100 wickets, after picking up two more wickets with the new ball.
Mitchell Johnson trails Starc with 87 Ashes wickets, and no other left-arm pacer has even reached 90. With this milestone, Starc became the 21st bowler in Ashes history to claim 100 or more wickets. Australia accounts for 13 bowlers on this list.
According to ESPNcricinfo, Starc is playing his 23rd Test match against England and has already reached 100 wickets at an average of 26-plus. With a best of 6/111, the left-arm bowler has four five-wicket hauls.
On Australian soil, Starc has taken over 43 wickets in 10 games against England, including one five-wicket haul. He has 56 wickets at 29.55 from 13 matches against England overall (5W: 3).
Across his career, Starc has played 101 Test matches, taking 405 wickets at an average of around 27. He has recorded 20 four-fers and 16 five-wicket hauls.
With the bat, he has scored 2,322 runs at 20.19, including eleven Test fifties.
According to Cricbuzz, Crawley’s dismissal was Starc’s 24th wicket in the opening over of a Test innings and his 15th such wicket since 2015. Since his debut, Starc has taken the most wickets in the opening over of any bowler. James Anderson (19) and Kemar Roach (10) follow him.
Crawley fell to a superb delivery that seamed away after pitching.
After removing Crawley, Starc continued to dominate. He trapped Ben Duckett LBW for 21 off 20 balls within his first five overs. His third wicket was talismanic batter Joe Root, who was dismissed for a seven-ball duck.
England, after choosing to bat first, suffered a severe early setback.
With Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins sidelined due to injuries, Starc is leading Australia’s attack in this Test.
