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Mitchell Starc gets 'justice' for infamous Lord's catch in Ashes 2023 with Perth blinder

Soumyajit Dutta

Mitchell Starc's Lord's 2023 catch and Ashes 2025 catch side-by-side [Source: @ForIme420/X.com]Mitchell Starc's Lord's 2023 catch and Ashes 2025 catch side-by-side [Source: @ForIme420/X.com]

"Maybe a bit of justice for "Lord's,"—Mitchell Starc on the sidelines of the Ashes 2025 Perth test.

The above words weren't just out of the blue from the Aussie, as Mitchell Starc recalled the infamous Lord's catch controversy from The Ashes 2023, where a screamer of his effort was declared not out as per the MCC law.

Why did Mitchell Starc call his screamer a justice for Lord's?

On the second day of the Perth Test between Australia and England on November 22, 2025, Mitchell Starc continued with his first over beauties as he dismissed Zak Crawley to etch a record of picking wickets in the first over for the 25th time! However, his catch was about to be caught in a controversy, as it was marred by a solid effort but almost a off-balance-ish finish.

Zak Crawley was out for a pair after he nicked off a good-length delivery to Starc as the latter, after following up from his run-up, dove to his left to grab the ball by his left hand. 

As his body swayed in the completely opposite direction, the decision went upstairs as umpires had to take a close look at the catch, as there were some possibilities of the ball touching the grass while Starc was not in complete control. 

However, running past that scare, Starc celebrated the wicket, and it was at the sidelines during the lunch break when Starc shared his words on the event.

Calling it 'luck and not skill,' Starc stressed that maybe the catch was a justice for Lord's, subtly hinting at the controversial decision that involved the bowling superstar.

What happened at Lord's?

Back in 2023, during the Lord's Ashes Test, on Day 4, Mitchell Starc thought that he palmed Ben Duckett in the deep as he slid with the ball after grabbing the catch. However, to everyone's surprise, it was not given out as per MCC laws.

MCC Law 33.3 states, “the act of making a catch shall start from the time when the ball first comes into contact with a fielder’s person and shall end when a fielder obtains complete control over both the ball and his/her own movement,” and as per the umpires, Starc was not in complete control of his movement.

It drew furious clapbacks as Glenn McGrath, on BBC commentary, was infuriated by the decision. 

“I’m sorry, that is the biggest load of rubbish I have ever seen. He has got that ball under control. That ball is under control. I’m sorry, I’ve seen everything this game has to offer. If that is not out, then every other catch that’s ever been taken should be not out," a feisty McGrath commented on air.

Nevertheless, it has been two years since the infamous incident, and it seems like Mitchell Starc has finally redeemed himself past the infamous incident with one hell of a blinder even at the age of 35.