Mitchell Starc Produces Career-Best 7/58 as England Collapse for 172 in Ashes Opener at Perth

Mitchell Starc unleashed one of the finest spells in Ashes history, claiming a career-best 7 for 58 as Australia bundled England out for just 172 on Day 1 of the first Test at a packed Perth Stadium on Friday. The left-arm quick, playing his 101st Test, was fiery from the outset—dismissing Zak Crawley in the first over and igniting an early collapse that England never recovered from.

England rocked from ball one

England captain Ben Stokes elected to bat on a bright Perth morning, but Starc immediately made him regret it. His full, swinging delivery found Crawley’s edge in the opening over—marking the 24th time the Aussie pacer has struck in the first over of an innings.

Starc then delivered a brutal three-wicket burst, removing Joe Root for a duck, and sending England into shock. Only Harry Brook (52) and Ollie Pope (46) displayed resistance, adding brief stability before debutant Brendan Doggett (2/27) dismissed Brook and exposed the tail.

From there, the innings disintegrated swiftly, lasting just 197 balls, making it:

• The third-shortest first innings in an Ashes Test in Australia

• Behind only Sydney 1887 (143 balls) and Melbourne 1902 (193 balls)

Starc’s new milestones

Starc’s 7/58 is not just his personal best—it is now:

• His best-ever Test figures

• The best bowling analysis recorded at Perth Stadium

• Only the second 7-wicket haul by an Australian at home in an Ashes Test this century

• The first bowler since 1990–91 (Craig McDermott) to take seven wickets on Day 1 of an Ashes Test in Australia

Best Figures for Mitchell Starc in Tests

Shortest First Innings of an Ashes Test in Australia

Context & significance

Perth traditionally favours teams batting first—every one of the previous five Tests at the venue had been won by the side setting a total. But England’s bold call backfired spectacularly, and their four-man pace attack (with Shoaib Bashir dropped) could do little to alter the script.

Australia now hold a commanding grip on the series opener, with momentum heavily in their favour after one of the most dominant Day 1 bowling performances of the modern Ashes era.