Starc's Gravity-Defying Act Steals the Show
Australian pace veteran Mitchell Starc delivered a moment of pure magic on Saturday that left cricket fans worldwide in absolute awe. The 35-year-old speedster, fresh from his magnificent seven-wicket haul on the opening day, produced an age-defying catch that will be remembered as one of the highlights of the Ashes 2025 series.
The Unforgettable Dismissal
The spectacular incident unfolded during England's second innings at Perth's Optus Stadium. On just the fifth ball of the innings, Zak Crawley faced the extra bounce that has become characteristic of the Perth pitch. The English opener attempted to play the delivery straight down the ground, but the ball took an unexpected trajectory.
What happened next was pure instinct and athleticism. Starc, who was completing his bowling follow-through and moving away from the action, reacted in a split second. The left-arm pacer stretched out his left hand, dove forward, and grabbed the ball at an astonishingly low height to complete a caught and bowled dismissal that defied both physics and his age.
History Repeats for Crawley
In a remarkable twist of fate, this wasn't the first time Starc had troubled Crawley in this match. The English batsman had fallen to Starc's bowling on the sixth ball of the first innings as well. This double dismissal meant Crawley registered a pair, failing to score in either innings of the crucial first Test.
The timing of Starc's spectacular catch couldn't have been more significant. Coming immediately after his career-best seven-wicket performance, the 35-year-old demonstrated that his value to the Australian team extends far beyond his bowling prowess. His all-round fielding excellence has become an additional weapon in Australia's arsenal.
Social media platforms exploded with reactions from former cricketers and fans alike, with many highlighting how exceptional such athletic feats are for a fast bowler in his mid-thirties. The catch immediately became the talking point of the cricketing world, overshadowing many other moments from the day's play.
