• Mitchell Starc destroyed England with sensational 7-wicket burst in Ashes 2025-26 opener at Perth.

  • England were bundled out for a low score of 172 in their first innings as Australia’s disciplined bowling attack.

Ashes 2025-26: Fans go gaga as Mitchell Starc rips through England with seven-wickets on Day 1 of Perth Test
Fans go gaga as Mitchell Starc rips through England batting line-up with a 7-wicket haul on Day 1 of the Ashes 2025-26 opener (Image source: X)

The much-anticipated first Test of the Ashes 2025-26 series at Perth’s Optus Stadium brought an emphatic start as Australia faced England, kicking off the historic rivalry with intense cricketing drama on November 21, 2025. In front of vocal and animated fans, it was Australian left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc who stole the limelight, delivering a fiery and clinical bowling performance that left England reeling in their first innings.

Ashes 2025-26: Mitchell Starc’s fierce 7-wicket haul sends England tumbling on Day 1 of Perth Test

From the very first over, Starc showcased relentless aggression and unerring accuracy, setting the tone with a rapid breakthrough. He bowled Zak Crawley for a duck with a sharp delivery angled across and seaming away, hooking Australia into an early ascendency. Starc maintained his assault, uprooting Ben Duckett lbw for 21 and devastating England’s hopes further by removing Joe Root for a duck, all within the opening nine overs. This destructive triple strike underscored Starc’s ruthless intent and marked an entry into Ashes history as the first left-arm seamer to reach 100 Ashes wickets with an exceptional strike rate.

England attempted to stabilize through Ollie Pope (46) and Harry Brook (52), who showed glimpses of resistance with valuable contributions supported by Jamie Smith‘s 33 runs. However, Starc’s precision re-emerged late in the innings to undermine any momentum, claiming seven wickets for 58 runs in 12.5 overs with four maidens, arguably one of the finest spell performances by an Australian pacer in modern Ashes cricket. Support from debutant Brendan Doggett, who chipped in with two wickets, and Cameron Green’s solitary wicket ensured England’s fragile innings didn’t recover.

Australia folds England for a low score in first innings of an Ashes opener

England’s innings folded at 172 all out in just 32.5 overs, underscoring a commanding first-day advantage for the hosts. After a fiery start by Starc, wickets fell at regular intervals with England unable to build significant partnerships or counter the disciplined Australian bowling attack. Despite Brook’s spirited half-century and moments of valiant resistance by Pope and Smith, the team fell well short on a pitch offering bounce and movement that favoured the pace attack.

The session saw England losing wickets at intervals, 1-0 (Crawley), 2/33 (Duckett), 3/39 (Root), 4/94 (Pope), and thereafter a steady collapse to 172 all out, leaving Australia in a commanding position. Starc’s devastating spell, backed by tight contributions from Doggett and Green, dimmed England’s “Bazball” aggressive intent early, bringing the crowd to their feet with delight. Australia’s fielding was sharp, with key catches supporting Starc’s wicket-taking ability.

At the innings break, Australia holds a strong grip on the match dynamics, putting England under significant pressure to bounce back in the second innings and setting an exciting tone for the rest of the Ashes series. Fans are buzzing from Starc’s sensational display and a dominant Australian opening day at Perth, signaling a fierce contest ahead as the battle for the urn heats up on home soil.

Also READ: Ashes 2025-26: Fans brutally troll Joe Root as Mitchell Starc removes England superstar batter for a 7-ball duck | Perth Test, Day 1

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Also READ: AUS vs ENG: Will Mark Wood feature in all five Ashes 2025-26 Tests? The England fast bowler breaks his silence

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Akash Thapa is a dedicated cricket journalist with three years of experience in the media industry. A BA (JMC) graduate from VIPS, GGSIPU, and a postgraduate in MAJMC from the University of Lucknow, Akash combines his academic credentials with a deep-rooted passion for cricket.His background as a former junior-level wrestler and cricketer enriches his insightful analysis and commentary on the game. Known for his inventive approach to writing and his commitment to capturing the nuances of cricket, Akash is a true aficionado of the sport.Connect with Akash on , , and .