In a blazing opener to the 2025-26 Ashes, Aussie quickie Mitchell Starc ripped through England, bowling them out for only 172 on day one at Optus Stadium. The 35-year-old lefty smashed his personal best with 7/58 - the first time he’s taken seven in Tests - wrecking England’s flashy "Bazball" batting plan in under 33 overs. He knocked over openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, solid man Joe Root, skipper Ben Stokes, then mopped up Jamie Smith, Gus Atkinson, and Mark Wood fast - one after another - as England tumbled from 160/5 to all out at 172, losing their final five wickets for just 12 runs.

England’s skipper Stokes called heads and picked batting, aiming to take on Australia’s weakened fast bowlers under gloomy clouds. Instead, Starc had plans of his own - with help from new guy Doggett (2/31) and Green (1/20). He got going straight away, making Crawley nick off first up for zero. Then Duckett fell leg-before, followed by Root smashed middle stump with a sharp in-swinger - one after another before lunch. “Starc? Just too good today - real top shelf,” said Smith once things wrapped.”.

Starc kept tearing through the lineup when he got Stokes yet again - the tenth time, mind you, more than anyone’s taken him except Ashwin who’s done it once more. This one was edge-and-gone, 22 on the board, poor shot really. Smith tried to fly over the infield but didn’t clear the man underneath. Then in quick fire, both Atkinson and Wood chopped onto their stumps off full tosses - bang, bang, gone. Brook stuck around for 52, tough going, until Doggett fired one short that popped off the glove straight to gully. That broke the stand. With this rampage, Starc pocketed his 17th five-fer - including five just against England - and hit 104 scalps in Ashes clashes, making him the fourteenth Aussie ever past triple figures.

This haul made history for Starc - it matched Bumrah’s record of five five-wicket spells versus England, pushing his WTC total to 196, edging past Ashwin’s 195 for third spot. Fans online joked he’s aging smoothly, calling it prime performance at age 35. Right after hitting 400 Test wickets in July, he praised Perth’s pitch, saying the ball moved off the seam early and they stuck to basics

England’s troubles grew when Australia hit back, ending the day at 1–15. Jake Weatherald, on debut, went first ball lbw to Jofra Archer. Marnus Labuschagne stood firm on 6, Smith on 7, both playing safe. Usman Khawaja slipped early for 2, caught edging Brydon Carse’s short one. That wicket showed how shaky the top order looked, even if the surface got smoother after dark.

The fall sparked strong words from former England skipper Michael Vaughan: "Bazball without thinking - no way this works versus top fast bowlers." Stokes stood by his team: "We believe in how we play, yet give it up to Starc; he’ll feel that pain again come morning." Chasing an edge in the series, Australia now aims for dominance early on Day 2, expecting livelier conditions as ground predictions point to extra spring.