New Delhi: Mitchell Starc picked up seven wickets as Australia bundled England out for 172 runs in the first innings of the opening Ashes Test at Optus Stadium in Perth on Friday, November 21. The left-arm pacer stood up in the absence of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood to rip apart England’s batting.
Just like the last Ashes series in Australia, Starc set the tone by removing Zak Crawley for a duck in the first over. He removed Ben Duckett for 21 runs with an inswinger, and then dismissed Root for a duck with a fine delivery, which squared him up.
Cameron Green trapped Ollie Pope lbw for 46 runs, while Starc picked up another big wicket and dismissed skipper Ben Stokes for six runs. After early setbacks, Harry Brook and Jamie Smith tried to counter-attack, but debutant Doggett broke that Partnership and removed Brook for 52.
Mitchell Starc removed Gus Atkinson to pick up his 17th fifer in Test cricket. Doggett took his second Test wicket by removing Brydon Carse for six runs. Jamie Smith and Mark Wood threw their wickets away as Starc picked his first seven-wicket haul in Test cricket
This is the best individual figures for Starc (7/58) in Test cricket. This is also just the second 7-wicket haul in the 21st century for Australia at home in Ashes Tests. He is also the first bowler to pick up seven wickets on the first day of an Ashes Test in Australia since Craig McDermott’s eight at the WACA in 1990/91.
England got off to a brilliant start with the ball as Archer dismissed debutant Weatherald for a duck in the first over. Archer bowled a full delivery, which swung back in, and the opener tried to flick it. He missed it completely, and the ball hit him low on the pads, crashing into the middle and leg stump.
