Starc's Spectacular Double Blow Rocks England in Ashes Opener
Australian pace spearhead Mitchell Starc produced a career-defining performance on Day 1 of the first Ashes Test at Perth, delivering a devastating double blow that left England reeling on November 22, 2025. The 35-year-old left-arm pacer not only registered his best-ever Test figures of 7-58 but also completed a stunning diving catch to compound England's misery.
Career-Best Bowling Demolishes England's Batting
After losing the toss, Australia found their hero in Starc, who single-handedly broke the backbone of England's batting lineup. The veteran speedster produced a masterclass in fast bowling, snapping up three wickets in his first five overs during the morning session. His remarkable spell included the crucial scalps of top-order batsmen that left England struggling at 105 for four at lunch.
Starc's dominance continued after the break as England lost six wickets for just 67 runs, with the final five batters collapsing for a mere 12 runs. Among his significant victims were former captain Joe Root, whom he dismissed for his 100th Ashes wicket, and the dangerous Ben Stokes. This achievement marked the 24th time in his illustrious career that Starc has taken a wicket in the very first over of a Test match.
Spectacular Catch Completes Crawley's Nightmare
If Starc's bowling wasn't enough, the Australian quick added fielding brilliance to his repertoire during England's second innings. After Australia were bundled out for 132, conceding a first-innings lead of 40 runs, Starc struck immediately with the ball again.
In a moment of pure athleticism, Starc dived full-length to his left to complete a spectacular return catch and dismiss England opener Zak Crawley for a golden duck - his second duck of the match. While Crawley had fallen to a loose shot in the first innings, this time he was undone by sheer brilliance from the bowler himself.
The dismissal, which came off the fifth ball of Starc's over, left Crawley with a pair in the match and showcased the Australian's all-round dominance on a day where he emerged as the undisputed match-winner.
Brief English Resistance Overwhelmed by Australian Pressure
England did show some fight during their first innings, particularly through a 55-run partnership between Ollie Pope (46) and Harry Brook (52) that provided temporary momentum. Ben Duckett also contributed 21 runs before falling lbw to Starc in the seventh over.
However, the day unquestionably belonged to Mitchell Starc, whose phenomenal performance with both ball and in the field has given Australia a significant advantage in the opening Test of this highly anticipated Ashes series. The left-arm pacer's career-best figures and breathtaking catch have set the tone for what promises to be an enthralling contest between cricket's oldest rivals.
