Joe Root entered the Ashes 2025-26 on the back of major talks of the opportunity to notch up his first Test century in Australia. But his series commenced in disastrous fashion as he was dismissed for a seven-ball duck by Mitchell Starc, who was on a rampage in the first hour in Perth.
The highly anticipated Ashes 2025-26 began on Friday in Perth after England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and elected to bat first on a pitch on which his opposite number, Steve Smith, the stand-in Aussie skipper, also wanted to bat in the first innings, citing that the pitch will break down as the game moves forward.
England’s Bazballers threatened to come unstuck early in the morning when the visitors were rocked to 39/3 inside nine overs, with all three wickets going to Starc’s account, who now has 100 Ashes Test wickets.
The hosts’ bowling attack is far from their preferred first-choice cartel, as both Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood are missing the Perth Test due to injuries. Cummins is all but certain to play in the second Test in Brisbane.
Video: Mitchell Starc dismisses Joe Root for a duck in 1st Test
In the absence of two of the big three fast bowlers, the third one was on the money from the onset. Starc had delivered a memorable first ball of the Ashes 2021/22 when he knocked over Rory Burns. Four years later, he got rid of Zak Crawley for a duck, caught by Usman Khawaja at first slip, on the last ball of the first over of the series.
He then had Ben Duckett LBW, who was threatening to cut loose, for 21 off 20 balls. The left-arm speedster continued to steam in and damaged England significantly when he had Joe Root nicking to Marnus Labuschagne at third slip.
Starc’s back of a length pitched on leg stump and sharply moved away from the right-handed Root, who defended with a closed bat, leading to a thick outside edge that flew to third slip, where Labuschagne took an easy catch down on his chest.
Starc was absolutely pumped up as Root began his walk back to the dressing room without a score to his name. The 9000 England fans in the stands were stunned and silenced, while the Aussie supporters roared.
Watch the dismissal here:
Meanwhile, this was Mitchell Starc’s 100th wicket in the Ashes, making him the 21st player to achieve this.
Ashes 2025-26 AUS vs ENG 1st Test Playing XIs:
Australia: Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Starc, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Steven Smith(c), Cameron Green, Brendan Doggett, Alex Carey(w), Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland
England: Joe Root, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Stokes(c), Gus Atkinson, Jamie Smith(w), Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood
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