[WATCH]- Mitchell Starc Grabs One-Handed Stunner As Zak Crawley Falls For A Duck In Perth Test

Mitchell Starc continued his remarkable form in the opening Ashes Test in Perth. After dismantling England with a seven-wicket haul on Day 1, the left-arm pacer delivered a breathtaking return catch that became the highlight of Saturday’s play at Optus Stadium. Starc pulled off an extraordinary one-handed effort to remove opener Zak Crawley for a duck, striking in the first over of an innings for the second time in the match.

Starc bowled a full delivery, and a tense Crawley, still yet to open his account in the Test, attempted a drive. The ball took an inside edge and looped into the air. As Starc finished his follow-through, he instinctively stretched out his left hand and held on to a brilliant catch. Despite losing his footing and falling to the ground, he kept the ball safely above the turf.

Starc’s joy was instant as he threw the ball into the air to indicate he had taken it cleanly, though the on-field officials still sent it to the third umpire for confirmation. The replays soon verified that the catch was perfectly fair.

WHAT A RIDICULOUS TAKE! Mitchell Starc sends Zak Crawley off for a pair! #Ashes | #PlayoftheDay | @nrmainsurance pic.twitter.com/1cg8PtLzx4

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 22, 2025

Fans hailed Mitchell Starc’s effort as one of the finest return catches ever. The wicket gave him his eighth of the match, provided Australia an early breakthrough despite a 40-run deficit, and completed a pair for Crawley after his first-innings duck.

First Time In Test History: Opening Stands In First Three Innings All Fail To Score A Run

Incredibly, it marked the first time in Test history that the opening stands in the first three innings of a match produced zero runs. Crawley’s back-to-back ducks framed another scoreless start — this time from Australian debutant Jake Weatherald, who was cleaned up by a fiery Jofra Archer yorker.

At 35, Starc has been tasked with leading the pace attack in the absence of skipper Pat Cummins and seasoned seamer Josh Hazlewood. The veteran, after quitting T20Is to focus on Tests, rose to the challenge and tore through England on Day 1. He notched up 100 Ashes wickets and posted the second-best figures by an Australian fast bowler in a single Ashes innings.

Yet, despite Starc’s seven-for that skittled England for 172, the visitors still earned a 30-run advantage as Australia’s batting collapsed. Ben Stokes claimed five wickets, while Brydon Carse and Jofra Archer combined for the remaining five to bowl Australia out for 132.

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