Mitchell Starc's 7/58 shatters England in Ashes opener at Perth Stadium

On the first morning of the 2025 Ashes series, Mitchell Starc didn’t just dominate—he dismantled. The 35-year-old Australian fast bowler took 7 wickets for 58 runs in just 24.5 overs on November 21, 2025, at Perth Stadium, leaving England all out for 172 in 32 overs. It wasn’t just a great spell. It was a career-defining masterpiece, delivered when Australia’s strike force was down—Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood sidelined, and Starc left to carry the burden alone. And he did, with a precision that defied logic, conditions, and even his own history.

A Perfect Start, Then a Perfect Storm

It began with a whisper. In the first over of the match, Starc bowled to Zak Crawley. No swing. No pace. Just a slight, almost imperceptible wobble seam that kissed the edge and flew to the slip cordon. Out. Duck. The crowd didn’t roar—yet. But the silence was heavy with recognition. By the time Joe Root, England’s veteran captain and last true anchor, edged a similar delivery for another duck at the 1:30 mark, the writing was on the pitch. Starc didn’t need swing. He didn’t need shine. He needed purchase—and Perth’s dry, unyielding surface gave him exactly that.

The Wobble Seam Revolution

For years, Starc was the express paceman who thrived on swing and speed. But as his body aged and pitches grew flatter, he reinvented himself. The wobble seam—a delivery that skids low, kicks unpredictably off the surface, and rarely moves through the air—became his secret weapon. As cricket.com.au noted, "The thought of Starc taking seven wickets on a day with little-to-no swing would have been inconceivable only a few years ago." Now, it’s his signature. He bowled 24.5 overs—the most by any bowler in the match—and didn’t lose his line or length. Not once. Ben Stokes, England’s captain, fell for 11, caught behind. Gus Atkinson, the promising all-rounder, edged to slip. Mark Wood, England’s pace spearhead, was bowled through the gate. Even Jamie Smith, the wicketkeeper, didn’t survive. Seven wickets. Seven different methods. Seven moments of pure, unrelenting control.

300 and Counting

At the 5:09 mark of the YouTube highlights, the commentary cut through the noise: "172 England all out. Mitch Starc over 300 Test wickets and he’s just delivered…" It was quiet. No fireworks. Just a nod from the bowler, a handshake from Pat Cummins on the sidelines, and a stadium holding its breath. Starc now has 301 Test wickets. Only 11 Australians have ever reached 300. He’s the first to do it with a wobble seam as his primary weapon. His previous best? 6/32 against India in 2018. This? 7/58. His first seven-wicket haul in 101 Tests. And it came on a day when the pitch offered next to nothing.

England’s Collapse: A Team in Disarray

England’s innings lasted 32 overs. That’s less than five hours of play. Their run rate? 5.33—an anemic pace for Test cricket. They lost their top four for 36 runs. The middle order offered no resistance. Ben Duckett, the opener, was bowled by a delivery that didn’t even break the surface. No edge. Just pure, brutal accuracy. The collapse wasn’t just tactical—it was psychological. Starc didn’t just take wickets. He broke belief. When the captain, Stokes, fell for 11, the spirit went with him. No one stepped up. No one even tried. The only bright spot? Jamie Smith’s grit—but even he couldn’t outlast Starc’s relentless pressure.

Starc’s Evolution: Age Is Just a Number

At 35, most fast bowlers are easing into retirement. Starc is redefining longevity. He’s bowled more overs in a single innings than ever before—29 times in his career, he’s exceeded this workload. But this time, he did it with surgical precision. He’s adapted. He’s studied. He’s learned to bowl slower, smarter, and more efficiently. "There’s obviously a little bit of a break now that’s a little bit longer now with the extra three days," he said post-match. "I think we’ll just enjoy this week." That’s not arrogance. It’s mastery. He knows what he did. And he knows how rare it is.

What This Means for the Ashes

This isn’t just a great day. It’s a statement. Australia didn’t just win the first day—they seized control of the entire series. The 2025 Ashes, the 74th in the rivalry dating back to 1882, now has a defining moment. England’s batting lineup looks brittle. Their pace attack is exposed. And Australia? They’ve got Starc, and they’ve got momentum. With the pitch expected to dry further over the next three days, Starc could be back with the second new ball—and he’s already shown he can do this again.

Historical Context: A Rare Feat

Only 11 bowlers in Test history have taken seven or more wickets in an innings after turning 35. Starc joins the likes of James Anderson and Glenn McGrath. But unlike them, he didn’t rely on swing or seam. He used a delivery few thought possible at his age. And he did it on a pitch that had no life. That’s what makes this so extraordinary. He didn’t just beat the batsmen—he outthought them. And he did it on his 101st Test. No one else in Australian cricket has ever taken seven wickets in an innings at this stage of their career.