Mitchell Starc claims 100th wicket in Ashes Tests and career-best figures - 'A ridiculous list to be in amongst'
Updated 21/11/2025 at 06:13 GMT
The NRMA Insurance men’s Ashes series got underway at Perth Stadium in the early hours of Friday, live on TNT Sports and discovery+. There was the familiar sight of Mitchell Starc striking early for Australia, and when he claimed the big wicket of Joe Root, he secured his 100th wicket in Ashes Tests. England openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett were his other victims in a superb spell.
Root's Australian pain continues with duck
Video credit: TNT Sports
Mitchell Starc has feasted on England’s top order in Ashes series down the years, and he shows no signs of slowing down at the age of 35.
At Perth Stadium in the first NRMA Insurance men’s Ashes Test of the series, he was regularly touching 90mph - and it proved too much for three of England’s leading lights in the opening session.
Zak Crawley lasted six balls before heading back to the pavilion for a duck. Attempting a drive at a ball that was not there to be driven, he got a thick edge through to the waiting midriff of Usman Khawaja at first slip.
Khawaja did not take the ball cleanly, but clasped it to his stomach to allow Starc to celebrate his 98th wicket in Ashes tests.
His 99th victim followed a few overs later, when a full delivery was too much for Ben Duckett as it smacked into his front pad and the umpire raised his finger.
The England opener asked for a review, but it was not a good move as replays showed the ball would have clattered into leg stump.
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Starc strikes again as Duckett out lbw
Video credit: TNT Sports
Starc had his tail up as England’s star man Joe Root strode to the crease.
Much has been made of the world’s No. 1 Test batter having never made a century in Tests on Australian soil.
Root has spoken positively about putting that right in this series, but it will have to wait at least one more innings as he became Starc’s 100th victim in Ashes cricket.
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Having narrowly survived a runout chance, Root was squared up by a testing delivery from the Australian quick and he edged it to Marnus Labuschagne at third slip.
"Edged and taken, and that is Joe Root gone," Rob Hatch said on commentary for TNT Sports. "This is turning into a mighty session for Australia. Root departs for a duck.
"It is the 100th Ashes wicket for Mitchell Starc. First day, first session, and it is historically what Australia have been good at."
The pacer continued his good work in the afternoon session as England were blown away for 172.
There were concerns about the Australia attack with captain Pat Cummins and fellow mainstay Josh Hazlewood both injured.
The onus was on Starc and he delivered in devastating fashion. The wickets of Ben Stokes, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Smith and Mark Wood followed for innings figures of 7-58 - his career-best haul in Tests.
Starc’s Ashes career began back in 2013, with Jonny Bairstow being the first to fall victim to the left-armer’s pace.
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Nightmare start for England as Crawley out in first over
Video credit: TNT Sports
He has continued to torment England, and Root fell victim to Starc for the ninth time in his Test career on Friday.
As well as tormenting Root, Starc has tormented opening batters. His dismissal of Crawley was the 24th time he has taken a wicket in the first over of a Test match.
'A ridiculous list to be in amongst'
TNT Sports expert Steven Finn was Starc’s second victim in Ashes cricket, and he said the company the bowler is now in emphasises his quality.
Finn said: "Look at the names above him: [Jeff] Thompson, [Terry] Alderman, [Nathan] Lyon, [Ray] Lindwall, [Glenn] McGrath, [Dennis] Lillee and [Shane] Warne. It is a ridiculous list to be in amongst.
"He is someone who has been at the heart of the Ashes battles for 10 years or so and to take 100 wickets is a nod to what a fantastic bowler he is."
'I keep getting told how old I am'
Starc is in the later stages of his career, but said his body is standing up to the challenge.
"I keep getting told how old this group is and how old I am," Starc said prior to the start of play in Perth. "I feel really good.
"It has been a good prep. I have done it a slightly different way these last few months with only playing two formats now and I can have a focus on my body and hopefully playing all five and playing really well."
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Watch every ball of the Ashes live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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