Mitchell Starc breathes fire in Perth, storms into Ashes history with 100 wickets; dismisses Joe Root for duck to achieve the milestone - WATCH

Mitchell Starc delivered a fiery spell in Perth, storming his way into Ashes history by becoming the 13th Aussie bowler to reach 100 wickets in the iconic rivalry. The milestone came in dramatic fashion as he removed England’s Joe Root for a duck, sending the Perth crowd into frenzy. Starc’s pace, swing, and relentless accuracy proved too much for the English top order, reaffirming his status as one of Australia’s premier strike bowlers.


Root, the world’s No. 1 Test batter but still chasing his first Ashes century on Australian soil, lasted just seven deliveries before edging Starc to Marnus Labuschagne at third slip for a duck, leaving England reeling at 39-3. The crucial breakthrough handed the 35-year-old Starc his 100th Ashes wicket at an impressive average of 26.65. It also swung the momentum firmly in Australia’s favor, a significant shift considering they had lost the toss and were asked to bowl first in the opening Test.


The left-arm quick became the 21st bowler - and the first left-arm seamer - to reach 100 wickets in Ashes Tests. His strike rate of 44.8 is the best ever among everyone in the exclusive 100-wicket club.

MOST WICKETS FOR AUSTRALIA IN THE ASHES

• Shane Warne - 195 wickets in 36 matches
• Glenn McGrath - 157 wickets in 30 matches
• Hugh Trumble - 141 wickets in 31 matches
• Dennis Lillee - 128 wickets in 24 matches
• Monty Noble - 115 wickets in 39 matches
• Ray Lindwall - 114 wickets in 29 matches
• Nathan Lyon - 110 wickets in 31 matches
• Clarrie Grimmett - 106 wickets in 22 matches
• Bill O'Reilly - 102 wickets in 19 matches
• George Giffen - 101 wickets in 26 matches
• Charlie Turner - 101 wickets in 17 matches
• Terry Alderman - 100 wickets in 17 matches
• Mitchell Starc - 100 wickets in 23 matches

It began in the opening over, with the veteran left-arm quick removing Zac Crawley for a duck when Usman Khawaja snapped up a sharp chance at slip off the sixth ball. The strike set the tone early, and Starc has now claimed a wicket in the first over of an innings an incredible 24 times.

Ben Duckett (21) took advantage of an out-of-sync Scott Boland, driving four crisp boundaries straight down the ground. But his momentum was cut short in the seventh over when Starc pinned him lbw with a full, straight delivery that crashed into his pads in line with leg stump. Duckett sent it upstairs, but ball-tracking upheld the on-field call, leaving England in early trouble at 33-2.