Mitchell Starc unleashed one of the great Ashes spells as he tore through England with a career-best 7 for 58 on the opening day of the first Test in Perth. From ball one, Starc looked lethal. He removed Zak Crawley in the very first over, setting the tone for a day where England never found any stability. By lunch, they were already wobbling at 105 for 4, with Starc having done most of the damage.
His dismissal of Joe Root — pinned for a duck on his 100th Ashes appearance — was a psychological hammer blow for England. Starc then shattered Ben Stokes’ stumps with a blistering delivery, a reminder of the raw pace and aggression that have long defined him. The tail had no answers either: Jamie Smith, Gus Atkinson, and Mark Wood all fell quickly as England collapsed to 172, losing their last five wickets for just 12 runs.
Historically, this spell hit new heights. The 7/58 stands as Starc’s best figures in Test cricket, surpassing all his previous five- and six-wicket hauls. It is also the finest bowling performance ever recorded at Perth Stadium in a Test match. Even more impressively, he became the first Australian since Craig McDermott in the 1990–91 home Ashes to take seven wickets on the opening day of an Ashes Test.
The day wasn’t just about Starc — it was carnage at both ends. A total of 19 wickets fell, the most on the first day of an Ashes Test in Australia since the 19th century. But Starc was unquestionably the centrepiece. His rhythm was sharp, his swing was late, and his control was relentless. He spoke afterward about being “at peace” with his identity as a bowler — attacking, fast, and unapologetically aggressive. That clarity showed in how ruthlessly he executed his plans.
With Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood out injured, the responsibility on Starc was enormous. He responded like a leader, carrying the attack and delivering a statement performance exactly when Australia needed it. His seven-wicket haul also took him past 100 Ashes wickets, placing him among the elite fast bowlers in the history of the rivalry.
The first day of the series couldn’t have delivered a stronger message: England were rattled, Australia were energised, and Mitchell Starc reminded everyone that when he’s locked in, he can single-handedly destroy a lineup. The Ashes have only just begun, but Starc has already stamped his authority on the contest.
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