Starc's Spectacular Display Puts Australia in Control
Mitchell Starc produced a breathtaking bowling performance to dismantle England's batting lineup and secure a commanding victory for Australia in the first Ashes Test at Perth Stadium. The veteran left-arm quick achieved the remarkable feat of taking 10 wickets in the match, becoming the first Australian bowler to achieve double digits in an Ashes Test since Shane Warne in 2005.
Key Battles Define Opening Test
The match witnessed several crucial individual duels that ultimately shaped the outcome. England opener Zak Crawley suffered a nightmare start to the series, falling to Starc for a first-over duck in both innings. The second dismissal proved particularly spectacular, with Starc diving full-length to complete a caught-and-bowled that left Crawley without scoring.
England captain Ben Stokes found himself similarly tormented by his Australian counterpart. Starc dismissed Stokes in both innings, taking his career tally against the England skipper to 11 Test dismissals - more than any other fast bowler has managed. The left-armer has now clean bowled Stokes five times in Test cricket, highlighting his dominance in this key battle.
Record Books Rewritten as Starc Nears History
Starc's phenomenal performance continues his remarkable record-breaking form. With his 10-wicket haul, he became the first Australian fast bowler to achieve the feat in an Ashes Test since Craig McDermott in 1991. More significantly, Starc now stands just three wickets away from surpassing Pakistan legend Wasim Akram as the most prolific left-arm bowler in Test cricket history.
The statistics reveal Starc's complete dominance in the opening Test. Stokes averages a meagre 17.36 runs against Starc across their 11 encounters, while Crawley's pair of ducks has extended his worrying run of form to 12 innings without passing 29.
Pink Ball Threat Looms for England
As the series moves to Brisbane for the second Test, England face the daunting prospect of confronting Starc under lights with the pink ball. The Australian speedster boasts an extraordinary record in day-night Tests, having taken 81 wickets at an average of just 17.08 - more than any other bowler in pink-ball cricket history.
Starc's mastery of these conditions suggests England's batting troubles may only intensify. His ability to swing the pink ball at high velocity has proven particularly devastating in previous day-night encounters, creating genuine concerns for an English lineup already struggling for confidence.
The comprehensive nature of Australia's victory, built largely on Starc's individual brilliance, leaves England with significant questions to answer before the Gabba Test. With historical precedents suggesting Starc's dominance could continue, Ben Stokes' men face a monumental challenge to keep their Ashes hopes alive.
