Ashes 2025-26 : Mitchell Starc completes 10 wickets haul at Perth with the key dismissal of Ben Stokes on Day 2 of Perth Test

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Australia and England commenced their much-anticipated 1st Test match of the 2025-26 Ashes series at the iconic Perth Stadium on November 21, 2025. The rivalry between the two cricketing giants added immense excitement to the contest. The pitch at Perth is known for its pace and bounce, presenting a true test for both batters and bowlers over the course of the match.

The highlight of Day 2 of the Ashes opener came from Australia’s left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc, who delivered a spectacular bowling performance. At the crucial moment of the innings, on delivery 24.4, Starc bowled to England captain Ben Stokes with a perfect back of a length ball at the off stump. The ball shaped away from the left-hander, enticing an edge that was smartly taken by Australia’s captain Steve Smith at second slip. This wicket was Starc’s tenth in the match, marking a significant milestone as he finished with 7.4 overs, 1 maiden, 20 runs, and 3 wickets in that innings alone. Stokes was dismissed for 2 runs off 11 balls, his painstaking resistance cut short by Starc’s incisive bowling.

The dismissal was not just any wicket; it was the 11th time Starc has dismissed Stokes in Test cricket, demonstrating a clear dominance over the English captain. This breakthrough came at a critical juncture as England was struggling at 88 for 6, and Starc’s brilliance breathed life into Australia’s hopes of wresting control from the visitors.​

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Starc’s performance across both innings was nothing short of spectacular. He claimed a 10-wicket haul (10 for 113) in this match, becoming the first Australian pacer in 35 years to achieve such a feat in an Ashes Test. His first innings figures of 7 for 58 remain among the best-ever bowling performances at Perth Stadium, and he continued the onslaught in the second innings by dismissing key batsmen including Zak Crawley, Joe Root, and of course Ben Stokes. Starc’s relentless pace and accuracy, even in the absence of fellow frontline pacers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, made Australia’s bowling attack a formidable unit. Starc also became the first player to take 10 wickets in a match at Perth Stadium.

This ten-for also elevated Starc into elite company within the World Test Championship. With this haul, he joined Nathan Lyon and Cummins as one of just three bowlers to have taken 200 wickets in the WTC, underscoring his consistency and impact in high-pressure international cricket settings.

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