Australia’s veteran pacer Mitchell Starc struck quickly in the Ashes 2025-26 opener, dismantling England’s top order with a stunning first-over wicket. He removed their opener, instantly putting pressure on the visitors and signalling that Australia meant business from ball one.

That early breakthrough was just the beginning. By the end of the first innings, Starc had ripped through England’s batting lineup for 7/58, reducing them to 172 all out.

Moreover, by the close of play on Day 2, Starc had registered a rare 10-wicket haul in the match. That feat — the first by an Australian pacer in 35 years — thrust him back into the spotlight and strengthened his case as one of the modern greats of the Ashes rivalry.

📈 Career-Defining Figures & Legacy Cemented

Starc’s performance did not just dominate a single match — it added to an already stellar career. He has now taken first-over wickets multiple times across his career, a rare skill even among elite pacers.

With this match’s haul, his Test tally climbs ever closer to legendary status. He now sits just behind Australia’s all-time greats, and among left-arm fast bowlers worldwide, only a handful — such as Wasim Akram — surpass his wicket-count.

Furthermore, former players and commentators have praised not just Starc’s raw pace, but his tactical acumen: his ability to exploit seam movement, use bounce intelligently, and stay composed under pressure.

The Guardian article argues that this performance — spearheading the bowling attack without stalwarts Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood available — shows that Starc himself can lead Australia’s pace bowling charge.

🔎 What This Means for Australia’s Ashes Campaign

Starc’s display has immediate and long-term implications. Immediately, it puts Australia in strong control of the series, applying psychological pressure on England before the next Test in Brisbane. They will now need to regroup — especially openers — facing a bowler in red-hot form.

Long-term, Starc’s resurgence sends a clear signal: age and experience have not dulled his edge. It also offers Australia a blueprint — a mix of pace, precision, and persistence — that could carry them through this Ashes cycle even amid injuries or squad rotation.

For Starc personally, this 2025-26 Ashes could define the latter half of his career as one of elite legacy. If he maintains fitness and form, he may yet claim historic ranks among the very best fast bowlers of all time.