Ashes 2025-26: Fans go gaga as Mitchell Starc rips through England with seven-wickets on Day 1 of Perth Test

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The much-anticipated first Test of the Ashes 2025-26 series at Perth’s Optus Stadium brought an emphatic start as Australia faced England, kicking off the historic rivalry with intense cricketing drama on November 21, 2025. In front of vocal and animated fans, it was Australian left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc who stole the limelight, delivering a fiery and clinical bowling performance that left England reeling in their first innings.

From the very first over, Starc showcased relentless aggression and unerring accuracy, setting the tone with a rapid breakthrough. He bowled Zak Crawley for a duck with a sharp delivery angled across and seaming away, hooking Australia into an early ascendency. Starc maintained his assault, uprooting Ben Duckett lbw for 21 and devastating England’s hopes further by removing Joe Root for a duck, all within the opening nine overs. This destructive triple strike underscored Starc’s ruthless intent and marked an entry into Ashes history as the first left-arm seamer to reach 100 Ashes wickets with an exceptional strike rate.

England attempted to stabilize through Ollie Pope (46) and Harry Brook (52), who showed glimpses of resistance with valuable contributions supported by Jamie Smith‘s 33 runs. However, Starc’s precision re-emerged late in the innings to undermine any momentum, claiming seven wickets for 58 runs in 12.5 overs with four maidens, arguably one of the finest spell performances by an Australian pacer in modern Ashes cricket. Support from debutant Brendan Doggett, who chipped in with two wickets, and Cameron Green’s solitary wicket ensured England’s fragile innings didn’t recover.

England’s innings folded at 172 all out in just 32.5 overs, underscoring a commanding first-day advantage for the hosts. After a fiery start by Starc, wickets fell at regular intervals with England unable to build significant partnerships or counter the disciplined Australian bowling attack. Despite Brook’s spirited half-century and moments of valiant resistance by Pope and Smith, the team fell well short on a pitch offering bounce and movement that favoured the pace attack.

The session saw England losing wickets at intervals, 1-0 (Crawley), 2/33 (Duckett), 3/39 (Root), 4/94 (Pope), and thereafter a steady collapse to 172 all out, leaving Australia in a commanding position. Starc’s devastating spell, backed by tight contributions from Doggett and Green, dimmed England’s “Bazball” aggressive intent early, bringing the crowd to their feet with delight. Australia’s fielding was sharp, with key catches supporting Starc’s wicket-taking ability.

At the innings break, Australia holds a strong grip on the match dynamics, putting England under significant pressure to bounce back in the second innings and setting an exciting tone for the rest of the Ashes series. Fans are buzzing from Starc’s sensational display and a dominant Australian opening day at Perth, signaling a fierce contest ahead as the battle for the urn heats up on home soil.

Also READ: Ashes 2025-26: Fans brutally troll Joe Root as Mitchell Starc removes England superstar batter for a 7-ball duck | Perth Test, Day 1

No Cummins, no Hazlewood no problem says Starc. 7/58 to start the Ashes! Well bowled 👏 #Ashes2025

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) November 21, 2025

MITCHELL STARC PICKED 7/58 IN THE ASHES OPENER.

– A true legend for Australia!

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) November 21, 2025

Mitchell Starc running riot in Perth as he notches an opening day Ashes five-for 🔥#WTC27 | #AUSvENG 📝: https://t.co/eE4SSOzEUc

— ICC (@ICC) November 21, 2025

– No Hazlewood.– No Cummins.– No Problem.

Because Mitchell Starc is here & he gets the Five Wicket haul. 🔥🥶

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) November 21, 2025

England have been bowled out for 172 👈

– 7-fer for Mitchell Starc 💥#Ashes #AUSvENG #MitchellStarc

— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) November 21, 2025

No Pat Cummins No Josh Hazelwood Bad Day for Boland

& Sir Mitchell Starc stands Yet Again At the biggest Stage 🙏

Aussies Are blessed to Have Mitchell Starc

Greatest ever . #Ashes2025

— CRICitism (@CRICitism) November 21, 2025

No Pat Cummins? No Hazelwood? No Problem Says MITCHELL STARC 🙌❤️Career Best Bowling Figure For Mitch Starc. What A Spell 7/58 🥶😍#Ashes #Ashes2025 #AUSvENG

— 𝐀𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐡 (@theashishsingh7) November 21, 2025

Mitchell Starc has chalked up the best ever 2 test innings in this current series.

England have been utterly blitzed away for 172.#Ashes #Ashes2025

— AIInspireHub (@allnspirein) November 21, 2025

Mitchell Starc in the Ashes.#Ashes2025

— 𝐒 𝐰 𝐚 𝐫 𝐚 (@SwaraMSDian) November 21, 2025

Mitchell Starc 🙌 #ashes

— Praveen Dubey (@Praveendubey_03) November 21, 2025

🔥 MITCHELL STARC GOES CRAZY! 🔥

– 36 wickets in 8 Tests in 2025 — 35 years old and peaking like never before! 🏏🤯 #Ashes2025 #MitchellStarc #TestCricket

— Akaran.A (@Akaran_1) November 21, 2025

Sorry Mitchell Starc , You Have to be the Greatest Ever 🙏

— CRICitism (@CRICitism) November 21, 2025

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