Mitchell Starc Shatters 34-Year-Old Ashes Record Last Held in 1991
Mitchell Starc showcased an extraordinary performance on the opening day of the first Test against England at Perth Stadium, claiming remarkable bowling figures of 7 for 58. His exceptional display helped Australia dismiss England for just 172 runs, putting the visitors in a challenging position in the five-match Ashes series. England captain Ben Stokes opted to bat after winning the toss, but the decision quickly backfired as Starc struck early, setting the tone for the day.
Starc’s Dominance on Day One
Mitchell Starc’s bowling was nothing short of spectacular as he dismantled England’s batting lineup with precision and aggression. The left-arm fast bowler made an immediate impact, taking the wicket of Zak Crawley in the very first over. Crawley edged a full delivery to Usman Khawaja at slip, marking the 24th time Starc has claimed a wicket in the first over of an innings. England’s hopes rested heavily on Joe Root, but Starc quickly removed him for a duck, further crippling the visitors.
Starc’s three-wicket burst left England reeling, and they struggled to recover. Only Harry Brook and Ollie Pope showed any resistance, scoring 52 and 46 runs, respectively. However, once Brook fell to debutant Brendan Doggett, who impressed with figures of 2 for 27, England’s innings fell apart. The team was all out for 172 runs in just 197 balls, marking one of the shortest first innings in Ashes history.
Starc Achieves Career Best
Mitchell Starc’s 7 for 58 is now the best bowling performance of his Test career, surpassing his previous best of 6 for 9 against the West Indies earlier this year. This achievement also sets a new record for the best bowling figures at Perth Stadium. Starc’s performance is particularly significant as he became only the second Australian bowler this century to take a seven-wicket haul at home in an Ashes Test.
Additionally, he is the first bowler to claim seven wickets on the opening day of an Ashes Test in Australia since Craig McDermott in the 1990-91 series. Starc’s remarkable feat highlights his ability to deliver under pressure and his importance to the Australian bowling attack. His performance not only contributed to England’s collapse but also solidified his place in Ashes history.
Record-Breaking Innings
England’s innings of 172 runs in just 197 balls is now recorded as the third-shortest first innings in Ashes history on Australian soil. The only shorter innings were England’s 143-ball effort in Sydney in 1887 and Australia’s 193-ball collapse in Melbourne in 1902. Despite the historical advantage of teams batting first at Perth—where the previous five Tests had all been won by the team that set the score—England’s decision to field an all-pace attack, excluding spinner Shoaib Bashir, proved detrimental.
The day belonged to Australia, with Starc leading the charge and setting a formidable target for England to overcome in the remaining matches of the series. As the first Test unfolds, the pressure is now firmly on England to respond and recover from this dismal start.
Observer Voice is the one stop site for National, International news, Sports, Editor’s Choice, Art/culture contents, Quotes and much more. We also cover historical contents. Historical contents includes World History, Indian History, and what happened today. The website also covers Entertainment across the India and World.
