Mitchell Starc Reaches 100 Ashes Wickets: Picks up Joe Root For His 100th

Udaipur, Nov 21, 2025: Australian pacer Mitchell Starc, added more excitement to the Ashes series with his fierce bowling. By dismissing Joe Root for a duck, Starc reached 100 wickets in the Ashes. He became the 21st bowler to take 100 or more wickets in the Ashes chapter. 

Starc is also the third fast bowler in the 21st century to take 100 or more Ashes wickets. Two former England fast bowlers, Stuart Broad (153 wickets) and James Anderson (117 wickets), have more. The 35-year-old bowler spoiled England's start by getting Jack Crawley caught by Usman Khawaja at first slip in his first over. Starc also became the second Australian bowler to take a seven-wicket haul in an Ashes test at home, in the 21st century.

Starc has bowled the opening over in an Ashes series four times, the most opening overs in the Ashes. Jack Gregory and Dennis Lillee bowled the opening over three times each.

Starc's Deadly Bowling Spell

England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and chose to bat first on a fast Perth pitch. But Mitchell Starc crushed Stokes’ hopes with a brilliant bowling spell. The left-arm pacer took three wickets for 17 runs in his first six overs, including three maidens. Starc dismissed Zak Crawley in the very first over.

He then got Ben Duckett (21) LBW on the fourth ball of the seventh over. Starc’s biggest breakthrough came when he dismissed Joe Root on the fifth ball of the ninth over. He bowled a good-length delivery that took the outside edge of Root's bat and went straight to Labuschagne at third slip. After England were bowled out for a measly 1172 in just 32.5 overs on the first day, Australia are not doing any better, reeling at 113 for 7

Starc's Test Career

Starc's bowling card of 7/58 in the first Ashes test this season, becomes his best till date. He also becomes the second bowler after Craig McDermott to claim 7 wickets on the opening day of an Ashes test in Australia. McDermott took 8 wickets in the 1990-91 series.. Shane Warne holds the record for most Ashes wickets, taking 195 wickets in 36 Tests. Former Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath is second on this list with 157 wickets. He played 30 Ashes matches. Starc now stands at the 15 position in terms of wickets taken in the Ashes series till date (Nov 21, 2025).

Top 20 Wicket Takers in Ashes

Stats Source: ESPN Cricinfo