Starc's Solo Masterclass Overshadows Australia's Missing Stars
In a spectacular display of fast bowling, Mitchell Starc single-handedly dominated the opening day of the Ashes series in Perth, proving Australia's bowling depth remains formidable even without their star duo. With captain Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood both absent, the veteran left-armer stepped up magnificently, claiming career-best figures of 7 for 58 at Perth Stadium.
From Big Three to Big One
The much-discussed absence of Australia's premier fast bowling partnership mattered little as Starc transformed what was meant to be a weakness into an overwhelming strength. While debutant Brendan Doggett found his feet and Scott Boland struggled for rhythm, Starc produced one of his finest performances in his 101-Test career that has yielded 409 wickets.
Remarkably, this represents Starc's second consecutive career-best performance, coming just months after his 6 for 9 against West Indies in Kingston during July. The statistics reveal how rare such hauls have been for the speedster - he's taken six wickets on six previous occasions and five wickets ten times, but never before reached seven.
England's Aggressive Approach Falls Short
England's batters approached their task with characteristic aggression, scoring at 5.2 runs per over before being dismissed for 172 in just 33 overs. However, their positive intent proved no match for Starc's relentless accuracy and pace, consistently exceeding 140km/h despite minimal swing assistance on a batting-friendly surface.
The collapse wasn't simply a case of reckless batting until the tail-end flurry. Starc built pressure through two extended spells, claiming crucial wickets at regular intervals. Zak Crawley fell driving ambitiously, while Ben Duckett and Joe Root both fell to excellent deliveries that challenged their techniques. The ball that clean bowled Ben Stokes just after lunch was particularly devastating - a scrambled seam delivery that cut back wickedly through the gate.
Australia's response with the bat proved equally dramatic, slumping to 123 for 9 at stumps after England's bowlers fought back strongly. This leaves Starc's magnificent performance in an interesting context - will it form the foundation of an Australian victory or become a standout individual effort in a losing cause?
Historical Context and What Comes Next
Starc's figures of 7 for 58 place him among an elite group of Australian Ashes performers, joining legends like Mitchell Johnson (7-40 at Adelaide 2013), Jason Gillespie (7-37 at Leeds 1997), and even matching Charlie Macartney's identical figures from 1909.
The challenge now for the veteran quick is backing up his extraordinary effort when England bat again. With Australia's first innings ending prematurely, Starc will need to produce another significant spell to contain England's batters. If day one proved anything, it's that writing off Mitchell Starc - even without his celebrated partners - remains a dangerous proposition.
