Ashes | Twitter in awe as splendid Starc lights up England early with wicket maiden to begin in Perth

Yesterday at 9:07 AM

188

Facing the first ball of an Ashes series Down Under is perhaps the most difficult situation an English batter can find himself in his Test career, a privilege afforded to Zak Crawley in Perth. Inevitably, a certain Mitchell Starc appeared as Australia's weapon-in-chief and left his stamp early.

Mitchell Starc delivered a wicket maiden to Zak Crawley to begin the Ashes 2025/26 at Perth Stadium

‌Australia enjoyed a dreamy start to the much-anticipated Ashes opener in Western Australia against England on Friday. Even though Steve Smith lost the toss and had to settle with bowling first on what looked like a decent batting track, his seamers made sure the hosts hold the edge all the same once the opening blows are traded courtesy. A certain all-timer named Mitchell Starc took the new ball as per and while he could not reporoduce his heroics from England's previous tour where he had knocked over Rory Burns first ball, the result at Perth Stadium was practically no different this time around either.

Starc was on the money right away as he hit his lengths early, inducing a couple of leaves as well as an early play-and-miss against Zak Crawley. The opener immediately looked at sea and Starc being the wily operator knew exactly how to capitalize. To cap off the over, the left-arm quick dragged his length a bit shorter and went wide of the stumps, tempting his tall counterpart into having a go. Crawley needed no second invitation as he attempted a boom drive, only to get a thick outside edge to send the ball straight into a tumbling Usman Khawaja's hands in the cordon.

The Kangaroos were ecstatic while Twitterati was quick to write England's post-mortem report just a few minutes into the month and a half affair.

First money

Crawley's first Duck of many in this Ashes 🔥
— TukTuk Academy (@TukTuk_Academy)

First one

Starc strikes in the very first over! 🔥❤️

Ladies & Gentlemen, the 2025/26 Ashes series is officially underway! 😍🤩😎 | THE ASHES | 1st Test | LIVE NOW 👉🏻
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia)

He strikes

ITS MITCHELL STARC...!!! 🤯

- He strikes in the first over, What a bowler in all formats.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns)

Up and away

Starc strikes in the first over and we’re up and away in Perth 💪

📲 Listen LIVE on the SEN App! 🏏 |
— SEN Cricket (@SEN_Cricket)

The first one

Mitchell Starc’s Test matches where he took a wicket in the VERY FIRST OVER:

– vs Sri Lanka, Galle 2016 (Dimuth Karunaratne)

– vs England, Brisbane 2021 Ashes (Rory Burns)

– vs India, Adelaide 2024 (Jaiswal)

- vs England, Perth 2025 Ashes (Zak Crawley)
— Mention Cricket (@MentionCricket)

Starc strikes

Not off the first ball but in the first over for sure. Starc strikes.
— Zubair Shakeel Wani (@ZubiTalks)

He does it

Zak Crawley in 2023: Boundary off the first ball.

Zak Crawley in 2025: Out in the first over.

MITCHELL STARC DOES IT AGAIN!
— CricBlog ✍ (@cric_blog)

Ashes is Ashing

Ashes is Ashing as Starc being Starc.

Mitchell Starc has taken 24 wickets in the first Over of a Test match in his Career 🤯
— GillTheWill (@GillTheWill77)

Big Mitch