Mitchell Starc Shines with Seven Wickets as Australia Dominates England in Ashes Opener

In a thrilling Ashes opener, Mitchell Starc's remarkable seven-wicket haul and Travis Head's explosive century propelled Australia to an eight-wicket victory over England. Captain Steve Smith praised the bowlers for their exceptional performance, particularly Starc and Scott Boland. Head's aggressive batting strategy played a crucial role in chasing down the target. With this win, Australia takes a 1-0 lead in the series, setting the stage for the upcoming second Test in Brisbane. Read on to discover more about this exciting match and what lies ahead for both teams.

By Narendra Chaudhary Nov 23, 2025, 02:01 IST

Starc's Stellar Performance Leads Australia to Victory

In Perth, Australian captain Steve Smith commended Mitchell Starc for his remarkable seven-wicket haul against England during the first innings of the Ashes series opener, describing the left-arm fast bowler's display as "incredible."

Smith also praised Scott Boland for his precise bowling and acknowledged Brendan Doggett for his effective performance, highlighting how the bowlers maintained pressure on England after Australia lost crucial wickets early on.

Starc's exceptional bowling was pivotal in securing Australia's commanding eight-wicket win in the first Ashes Test at Perth Stadium. He recorded impressive figures of 7/58 in the first innings and 3/55 in the second, culminating in a match total of 10/113.

Boland supported Starc admirably with a spell of 4/33 in the second innings, while debutant Doggett made a mark with five wickets throughout the match, showcasing the depth of Australia's fast-bowling talent.

Steve Smith remarked, "Mitchell Starc bowled beautifully. It was a poor ball, but the way he took seven wickets was incredible. They backed it up today. Scott Boland was exceptional; he maintained the right line and length. That’s the Boland we know. Doggett also bowled impressively."

Australia's chase of 205 was propelled by a stunning counter-attack from Travis Head, who scored a blistering 123 runs off just 83 balls, featuring 16 fours and four sixes, effectively turning the match in Australia's favor.

Head, who batted at number five in the second innings, was elevated to the opening position in the fourth innings. Reflecting on this change, he mentioned, "I do it in other formats. There was an opportunity to replicate what David Warner had done. We were looking for someone to be more aggressive."

With Starc's fiery ten-wicket haul and Head's explosive batting, Australia clinched the first Test by eight wickets, taking a 1-0 lead in the Ashes series.

The next Test is set to commence on December 4 in Brisbane, where England will seek to recover from their defeat in Perth.