Brilliance with ball and bat: Mitchell Starc proving his worth for injury-struck Australia

Mitchell Starc (Source: AFP) 

The veteran Australia pacer Mitchell Starc was considered to have pressure on himself in the absence of skipper Pat Cummins and star pacer Josh Hazlewood in the first two Tests of the Ashes. It was said that Starc alone will not be enough for the Aussies in this high-octane Test rivalry against England.

But the New South Wales veteran defied every fear, denied every analysis and proved himself as one of the GOATs in international cricket. Not only with the ball, he also shone with the bat and proved his worth for the Aussies in all the possible ways while missing his fellow quicks, Cummins and Hazlewood duo. 

Given that, here's a look at his numbers, performances, and other factors to analyze his worth and significance for Australia in the ongoing Ashes 2025-26.

Earning the tag of 'modern-day bowling great'

Being the only experienced and senior most individual in the Aussie bowling, Starc has had an added responsibility to deliver a bit more than what he is known for. In what seems to be a pleasant development for the Australian cricket fans, Starc has fully lived up to the expectations and has left a significant impact with his sensational bowling performances in the first two Tests of the Ashes so far. 

The 35-year-old showcased his mastery with the ball in the Ashes opener in Perth, picking seven wickets for just 58 runs in the first innings followed by 3/55 in the second innings. He also won the ‘Player of the Match’ award for his match-winning 10-wicket haul in the game after Australia’s eight-wicket win over England. 

Later in the first innings of the second Ashes Test in Brisbane, dismissing England’s Harry Brook happened to be a moment for Starc when he earned the validation from the Pakistan bowling legend Wasim Akram. Notably, it was the moment when the Aussie speedster surpassed Akram in the list of ‘leading wicket-takers in Tests among left-arm seamers’. Akram had scalped 414 wickets in his illustrious 104-match Test career, while Starc has now 420 wickets in 102 Tests, with the Brisbane Test still underway.  

Mitchell Starc with Ball in Ashes 20252-26 

He has claimed eight wickets in the ongoing second Ashes Test against England, including a six-wicket haul in the first innings. He is currently the leading wicket-taker in the Ashes 2025-26, with 18 wickets in just four innings, with an outstanding strike rate of 18.94 and a sensational bowling average of 13.11. He has a big difference of nine wickets with the second leading-wicket taker in series, Brydon Carse of England, who has picked nine wickets in three innings so far. 

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Multiplying the Aussie delight with batting prowess 

Apart from delivering the masterclass and excellent performances with the ball, Starc also multiplied the joy for the Aussie camp with his batting brilliance, especially in the first innings of the ongoing Day-Night Test at the Gabba in Brisbane. 

Batting at number nine, Starc scored crucial 77 runs off 141 balls, with 13 fours to help the hosts post a big total of 511 before getting all-out in the first innings. His knock played a central role in taking Australia’s total beyond 500 and taking a decent lead of 177 runs at the end of first innings. 

Mitchell Starc with Bat in Ashes 2025-26

Speaking of his batting numbers in the ongoing Ashes 2025-26, Starc seems to be playing in the role of a proper all-rounder for his side. He has scored 89 runs in two innings, with an amazing average of 44.50, including a half-century in Brisbane. Interestingly, the fourth leading run-scorer for Australia in the current edition of Ashes. 

Conclusion: Still have ‘a lot’ of years left in bank

Notably, Starc will be turning 36 next month and he has already completed one and a half decades in international cricket in October this year. Playing actively without being ‘vulnerable to injuries’ even at 36 is a big thing for a seamer and that too in a cut-throat competition. 

But the positives with Mitch Starc and his recent performance prove to be the staunch advocates of the fact that he is going nowhere for the next couple of years. Even if he thinks about hanging boots in ODIs after the 2027 World Cup, he still has a lot to offer in the Tests more or less for next 3-4 years 

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