Mitchell Starc has been deservedly named the Player of the Ashes series, capping a monumental individual campaign where his prowess with both ball and bat proved the decisive difference between Australia and England.
From Promising Talent to Series-Defining Force
The left-arm fast bowler delivered a masterclass in endurance and skill across all five Tests, finishing with 31 wickets at an average of just 19 runs each. This places him among an elite group of only 17 Australians to have taken 30 or more wickets in an Ashes series. His performance from the first ball in Perth to the last in Sydney showcased a bowler at the peak of his powers, combining raw pace with relentless accuracy and tactical intelligence.
Long past being viewed as a mercurial talent, Starc has matured into Australia's most durable and consistent quick. His two wickets on the final morning in Sydney took his career tally to 433, drawing him level with legends like Rangana Herath and placing him just one behind Kapil Dev.
Leading the Line in a Depleted Attack
This series represented a new challenge for Starc, who has been a cornerstone of Australia's famed four-man bowling unit for eight years. With Pat Cummins available for only one Test, Nathan Lyon effectively missing for one, and Josh Hazlewood absent, Starc shouldered the responsibility of leading the attack. He responded by playing in all five matches, bowling his third-highest number of overs in a series, and maintaining his searing pace in the mid-140s (kph) until his final spell.
His method was multifaceted: swinging the new ball, employing a dangerous wobble seam, and delivering a relentless line that constantly threatened the outside edge of right-handed batters. His angle of attack was particularly potent against England's left-handers.
Batting Contributions and Crushing England's Openers
Starc's value extended far beyond his bowling. His match-defining 77 in Brisbane came when England had Australia on the ropes, shifting momentum decisively. In Adelaide, his 54 helped add a crucial hundred runs for the last three wickets on a scorching 40C day, sparing his team valuable time in the field.
Perhaps his most critical role was dismantling England's planned foundation. He systematically broke the dangerous opening partnership of Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley, dismissing one or both in the first over of an innings on four separate occasions. Nine of his 31 wickets were the two openers, with their partnerships repeatedly failing to provide a platform: 0, 0, 5, 48, 37, 4, 7, 51, 35, and 4.
He also claimed the key scalps of Joe Root three times and Ben Stokes five times, directly targeting the heart of England's batting order. While Travis Head's 629 runs captured headlines, the calculus of the series suggests Australia might have lost the first two Tests without Starc's all-round interventions.
At the Sydney Cricket Ground, Starc fittingly cleaned up the final two English wickets, providing the final flourish to an imperious personal campaign that rightly earned him the series' highest individual accolade.
