Greatest Return Catch? Watch Mitchell Starc’s Age-Defying Effort – Day 1 Report from the Ashes Opening Test
On a dramatic opening day of the first Test of the Ashes 2025‑26 series in Perth, Mitchell Starc produced a moment that may go down as one of the greatest fielding efforts in recent memory. With England rocked by his devastating spell of 7 for 58, it was one particular catch — off his own bowling, high-speed, acrobatic, and perfectly judged — that stole the spotlight and left the crowd in awe.
England had chosen to bat first under steamy Western Australian skies—but they barely settled in before Starc struck. Zak Crawley was dismissed for a duck, soon followed by Ben Duckett and the centurion-chasing Joe Root. Starc’s opening salvo set the tone, and as the day progressed he picked off wickets with relentless precision.
The drama escalated when Starc, after delivering a fierce bouncer, sprinted to his left and plucked a screaming edge with one hand. No part of the ball hit the ground. The roar from the crowd said all that needed saying: this was special. Commentators described it as a “full-stretch one-hander” that defied logic for a fast bowler of his stature.
England were bundled out for 172 in just 32.5 overs. The collapse was brutal. Only Ollie Pope (46) and Harry Brook (52) offered much resistance before the tail crumbled. Australia’s reply didn’t go smoothly either—in fact, by stumps they were 123-9, still 49 runs behind and staring at a toppling of their own. 19 wickets fell on day one — a rarity in Ashes history.
What this means for the series is clear: Australia will ride Starc’s resurgence like a wave, while England’s batting hierarchy faces a crisis of confidence before they even turn to the second day. That catch? A vintage Starc moment, reminding everyone that even in the latter stage of his career, he remains capable of ripping the game apart, not just with speed and swing, but with reflexes that suggest the best years may not yet be behind him.
