Mitchell Starc was breathing fire as The Ashes 2025-26 kicked-off with a bang at the Perth Stadium on Friday morning. England captain Ben Stokes opted to bat first and watched his side slip to 105/4 when the first session came to an end. Starc was the wrecker-in-chief, bowling a fiery spell with the new ball and taking three wickets in his first five overs.

The destruction began in the first over itself when he had Zak Crawley edge to Usman Khawaja at first slip off the sixth delivery in a roaring start for Australia. Crawley recorded a six-ball duck.

In his fourth over of the morning, Starc struck again, this time trapping the other England opener Ben Duckett LBW. Duckett wasted the review as ball-tracker showed three reds leaving the tourists wobbling at 33/2 in 6.4 overs.

In walked J

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