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Ashes 2025-26, AUS vs ENG 1st Test: Mitchell Starc set the stage on fire on the first day of the first Test between Australia and England in the ongoing Ashes 2025 at the Perth Stadium on Friday. He produced yet another bowling masterclass to record his career-best figures in Test cricket.

Starc finished with seven wickets under his belt for 58 runs in 12.5 overs as Australia bowled England out for 172 runs in 32.5 overs after the visitors opted to bowl first. The senior pacer took the wickets of Jamie Smith (33) and Mark Wood (0) in successive deliveries to wrap things up and will be on a hat-trick in the second innings.

Best figures for Starc in Tests

7/58 vs Eng Perth 2025 (today)

6/9 vs WI Kingston 2025 (his previous innings)

6/48 vs Ind Adelaide 2024

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This is Starc’s 17th five-fer in Tests and his fifth against England. He now has 104 Test wickets against England. The left-arm pacer is the 14th Australian bowler to pick more than 100 wickets against England: Shane Warne being the highest with 195 scalps.

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Starc removed Zak Crawley in the first over of the match, getting him caught at first slip. In the same spell, he got the better of Ben Duckett and Joe Root before returning later to get rid of Ben Stokes and the lower order to complete his seven-fer. This was the second time that Starc took a wicket in the first over of an Ashes series, having earlier famously cleaned up England opener Rory Burns in Brisbane in 2021. He is now the first to achieve the feat more than once.

Wicket In First Over Of Ashes Series

Ernie McCormick of Australia, Brisbane (1936): Dismissed Stan Worthington with the 1st ball

Trevor Bailey of England, Brisbane (1950): Dismissed Jack Moroney with the 4th ball

Gary Cosier of Australia, Brisbane (1978): Was run out off the 5th ball

Ben Hilfenhaus of Australia, Brisbane (2010): Dismissed Andrew Strauss with the 3rd ball

Mitchell Starc of Australia, Brisbane (2021): Dismissed Rory Burns off the 1st ball

Mitchell Starc of Australia, Perth (2025) Dismissed Zak Crawley with the 6th ball

Talking about England, the visitors never got the momentum during their innings. Harry Brook was the top run-getter, having played a 52-run knock on the back of five fours and a six, whereas Ollie Pope produced a contribution of 46 runs in 58 balls. Jamie Smith put up a late fight and scored 33 runs in 22 balls.

 

AUS vs ENG 1st Test Playing XIs:

Australia: Usman Khawaja, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (C), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (WK), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Brendan Doggett, Scott Boland

England: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (C), Jamie Smith (WK), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood

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