From the moment the first ball of the opening match of the Ashes 2025‑26 at Perth Stadium rolled out, Mitchell Starc wasted no time in making his mark. Within the first over, he dismissed Zak Crawley, edging him into the slip cordon.
Soon after, he added two more scalp to his tally by removing Ben Duckett (who had been attacking early) and then the seasoned Joe Root — the latter departing without scoring in just seven balls. His ability to strike so decisively in the first ten overs set the tone and rattled the English top-order before they had properly settled in.
Milestone Reached: A Unique Century
Starc’s third wicket in that rapid burst marked a significant milestone: he collected his 100th wicket in Ashes Test matches, thereby becoming the first left-arm fast bowler ever to reach that landmark in this historic series.
He joined an elite list of 21 bowlers who have reached 100 Ashes wickets, but what sets him apart is his strike rate in the series — at just 44.8, it stands as the best among all those bowlers. This “unique century” therefore wasn’t about batting but about mastering the art of breaking through in one of cricket’s fiercest rivalries.
Stepping Up in a New Role
What adds further significance to the achievement is the context: with his usual strike-partners Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood unavailable, Starc assumed the mantle of spearheading Australia’s pace attack almost single-handedly.
Moreover, there had been some pre-match unease: he and his teammates had been openly disappointed that the Ashes opener was shifted from the traditional venue in Brisbane (the “Gabbatoir”) to Perth, citing concerns about conditions and preparation.
Despite that backdrop, Starc responded in full force — letting his performance speak louder than remarks about venue choices. His early breakthroughs not only energized his side, but also sent a message that he remains a potent threat for England whenever the new ball is in play.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.
