Just the way Ashes 2013/14 has been permanently associated with Mitchell Johnson, the ongoing 2025/26 Ashes is shaping up to be the kind of series that will be remembered as Mitchell Starc’s Ashes.
The left-armer began the series with a career-best 7-fer in the first innings of the first Test in Perth, and the backed it up with three more in the second innings to notch up a ten-fer. Crucially, he dismissed England’s talisman Joe Root in both innings.
Starc then picked up his second five-fer of the series in the first innings of the ongoing Gabba Test, taking 6/75 to bundle England out for a modest score in excellent batting conditions.
Today on day three, the 35-year-old extended his dominance in the series further, this time coming to the party with the bat in hand. He notched up his 12th Test fifty as he showed incredible resilience with the bat to grind the English bowlers down.
In the process, Starc achieved a rare all-round feat not even managed by Ben Stokes, who is regarded as the best all-rounder in the world. Indeed, he became only the fourth player this century, and the first since Johnson in 2013, to take a five-fer and score a fifty in the same Ashes Test.
Players to take a 5-fer and score a 50 in the same Ashes Test (since 2000)
Andrew Flintoff – The Oval, 2005
Stuart Broad – Leeds, 2009
Mitchell Johnson – Perth, 2010
Mitchell Johnson – Brisbane, 2013
Mitchell Starc – Brisbane, 2025
At the time of writing this report, Starc is batting on 61*. Australia’s lead is 140, with the 9th wicket partnership between Starc and Scott Boland reading 58.
