Australia face England in the Ashes 2025-26 first Test Day 2 at Perth’s Optus Stadium
Mitchell Starc pulled off a stunning diving caught-and-bowled to dismiss Zak Crawley for a pair in the opening over
On Day 2, England held a 40-run lead before Starc struck immediately again, restricting the visitors to a 99-run advantage by Lunch
Mitchell Starc just cannot stop hurting England, and Zak Crawley is copping it the worst. Day 2 of the Ashes 2025-26 first Test started with Starc tearing in at Perth’s Optus Stadium, and the drama kicked off instantly.
Crawley pushed at the fifth ball of the over, nothing more than a firm prod back down the pitch, but Starc sprang to his left in the follow-through and plucked a stunning diving caught-and-bowled to hand the opener a pair. One moment of athletic madness, and England were jolted before they could blink.
The early breakthrough came on the back of Starc’s demolition job in the first innings, where he produced a career-best 7-58 to snap England apart.
Earlier in the morning, Australia had been bundled out for 132, conceding a 40-run lead, but Starc walked out looking like he had unfinished business. The rhythm, the pace, the menace it all carried straight into the second innings.
That Day 1 spell also delivered Starc's 100th Ashes wicket, and he made it count by removing Joe Root, the No. 1-ranked Test batter who is still chasing his first Ashes century in Australia. Starc was irresistible from the first over, snatching three wickets in his opening five and leaving England rattled at 105 for four by lunch.
And now, in the second innings, he’s struck in the opening over yet again, the 24th time he has done it in Tests.
A diving caught-and-bowled, a Crawley pair, and a jolt that sliced straight into England’s early advantage. At Lunch, England’s lead stands at 99, but Starc has the ball hooping, the confidence soaring, and the match swinging back towards Australia every time he charges in.
