Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc, after picking a seven-wicket haul in the first innings, started his second innings by picking Zack Crawley for a duck yet again in the opening over. While in the first innings, Crawley played a loose shot outside the off-stump, which travelled to the slips. In the second innings, Starc took a brilliant return catch to dismiss the batter.
It was the fifth ball of the over that Crawley pushed back, and Starc dived onto the left side to complete a diving catch. Earlier in the morning, Australia were bundled out for 132 runs, conceding a lead of 40 runs in the first innings.
Starc claimed a career-best seven wickets to break the back of England’s batting as Australia bundled England out for 172 on Day 1. After losing the toss in the first Ashes Test at Perth. Starc’s 7-58 included critical wickets like those of Joe Root and Ben Stokes.
WHAT A RIDICULOUS TAKE! Mitchell Starc sends Zak Crawley off for a pair! #Ashes | #PlayoftheDay | @nrmainsurance pic.twitter.com/1cg8PtLzx4
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 22, 2025
The 35-year-old left-arm pacer snapped up three England wickets in his first five overs in the first session at Perth. He also picked up his 100th career wicket and took a wicket in the first over of a Test for the 24th time in his career. Starc’s early breakthroughs had England on the ropes with the scoreboard reading 105 for four at lunch on Day 1.
Starc’s 100th Ashes wicket was also a big one for Australia as he got the No. 1-ranked Test batter Root out. Root is still searching for his first Ashes century in Australia.
England lost six wickets for 67 runs after lunch — the last five wickets tumbling for 12 runs to be all out in the second session.
Ben Duckett (21) was punishing an off-rhythm Scott Boland’s half-volleys at the other end to keep the runs flowing, punching four boundaries down the ground, before Starc trapped him lbw in the seventh over with a full-length ball.
The only bright spot for England for the day was the 55-run stand between Ollie Pope (46) and Harry Brook (52), which gave England some momentum before all-rounder Cameron Green (1-10) struck at the end of his first over of bowling in a test match since 2023.
