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Mitchell Starc claims rare Ashes record in 21st century as Australia wallops England 4-1

Aakash Saini

Mitchell Starc in Ashes 2025-26 [Source: @ImTanujSingh/X]Mitchell Starc in Ashes 2025-26 [Source: @ImTanujSingh/X]

Australia bulldozed England by five wickets in the fifth Test to secure the 2025-26 Ashes series 4-1 at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). Chasing 160 after England stretched its second innings guile to 342, wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey and all-rounder Cameron Green notched up the winning runs together to lift Australia from 121-5 in 23.1 overs to a convincing victory at the brink of Tea break.

While firebrand opener Travis Head won the ‘Player of the Match’ award for plundering scores of 163 and 31 across both innings, senior paceman Mithcell Starc bagged five wickets in the game, including the prized scalp of English openers as well as captain Ben Stokes.

Mitchell Starc finishes the Ashes with 31 wickets, claims this record

Legendary Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc has become one of only five bowlers this 21st century to pick 30 or more wickets in a single Ashes series.

After harvesting 31 wickets in five matches of the 2025-26 home Ashes at a formidable bowling average of 19.93, Starc joined Shane Warne of 2005 and 2001, Glenn McGrath of 2001 and ex-teammate Mitchell Johnson from the 2013-14 series.

Here is a look at five bowlers, who all happen to be Australians, to pick the highest number of wickets in a single Ashes series this century.

Most wickets in an Ashes series in 21st century:

Bowlers
Ashes
Wickets
Shane Warne200540
Mitchell Johnson
2013-1437
Glenn McGrath200132
Shane Warne200131
Mitchell Starc2025-2631

Mitchell Starc started off the 2025-26 Ashes series with a career-best spell of 7-58 at the Optus Stadium in Perth. He followed it up with another six-fer in Brisbane and complemented it with a match-winning 77 with the bat as the Australian lead swelled to 2-0 after the first two matches.

While Mitchell Starc finished the 2025-26 Ashes series with 31 wickets in five Tests at an average of 19.93, he had bagged 18 of those wickets after the first couple of matches itself.