Australia pacer Mitchell Starc delivered a crucial blow by removing England skipper Ben Stokes on Day 1 (Friday, November 21) of the first Ashes 2025-26 Test in Perth.
The left-handed batter was left stunned as Starc rattled his stumps through the bat gap, and the clip quickly grabbed attention on social media.
Starc is leading the pace attack in the absence of veteran bowlers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. The left-arm pacer set the tone by dismissing Zak Crawley for a duck in the first over. He removed Ben Duckett and Joe Root in his first spell in the morning session. Starc ended the spell with 3/17 in six overs.
Ben Stokes Left Stunned As Mitchell Starc Dismantles His Off-Stump
Mitchell Starc produced another wicket in his first spell after the lunch break. Ben Stokes walked out under pressure after early wickets. Starc had set him up with outswingers, and the one that seemed in caught the England captain off balance.
Stokes pushed through the line with a gap between bat and pad, and the ball rocketed through to crash into middle and off. The wobble-seam delivery pitched on a length outside off, straightened late, and shattered the stumps.
Stokes had to walk back to the dressing room after scoring 6, leaving England five down for 115 inside 25 overs. Starc was fired up as he continued to dismantle England’s top order. He picked up his fourth wicket in England’s first innings so far.
the below video of the dismissal as Starc got Stokes in Perth:
Mitchell Starc Completes Five-Wicket Haul In Perth Test
Ben Stokes has faced Mitchell Starc in 22 innings in Test cricket. Stokes has scored 190 runs from 304 balls against him at an average of just 19 and a strike rate a little above 62 in this head-to-head battle. Starc has removed the left-handed batter 10 times in the longer format.
Mitchell Starc completed his five-wicket haul after dismissing Gus Atkinson, who pushed loosely at a delivery outside off. Steve Smith completed a sharp low catch at second slip. It was his fifth five-for against England and the 17th of his Test career.
At the time of writing, England are in trouble at 167-7 after 31 overs. Debutant Brendan Doggett picked up his maiden wicket with the dismissal of Harry Brook. Wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith and Brydon Carse are at the crease as the visiting team hope to post a competitive total.
England Skipper Ben Stokes Opts To Bat First After Winning Toss in Perth
The first Test began with England winning the toss at the Optus Stadium. England left out off-spinner Shoaib Bashir and picked a full pace attack featuring Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson and Mark Wood. With Stokes fit enough to bowl again, the visitors assembled a strong fast-bowling unit.
Australia had confirmed their XI a day earlier. Following injuries to Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, Brendan Doggett made his Test debut, while Scott Boland joined as the second seamer. Jake Weatherald, who was named to open the innings alongside Usman Khawaja, also made his debut.
England entered the match looking to break a long drought in Australia. They have not won a Test there since 2011 and have gone winless in 13 of their last 15 Ashes fixtures on Australian soil.