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Mitchell Starc registers career-best Test spell in fiery Ashes opener; Here's top 5 list

Akshita Patel

Best spells of Mitchell Starc in Test cricket [Source: @AussiesArmy/X.com]Best spells of Mitchell Starc in Test cricket [Source: @AussiesArmy/X.com]

Mitchell Starc, one of Australia's most celebrated fast bowlers, set the opening day of Ashes 2025 on fire with an electric spell. His five-wicket haul left England rattled at the Optus Stadium in Perth.

In the absence of partners like Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, Starc was relentless and fulfilled his duty to outsmart the opposition on a big stage like the Ashes.

As Mitchell Starc registers his career-best spell, here's a look at his five best bowling figures in the Test format.

5. 6/66 vs Pakistan - Adelaide, 2019

In 2019, Australia toured Pakistan, and in the second day/night Test, the visitors tormented the hosts. After Australia set a mammoth first-inning total of 589 runs, Mitchell Starc dismantled Pakistan's middle order with a sensational five-wicket haul. 

His wickets included Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq and Iftikhar Ahmed. Babar was on 97 when Starc sent him packing. With the wicket of Shaheen Afridi, Starc finished his spell with 6/66 in 25 overs, including six maidens and a 2.64 economy. 

That spell and Warner's triple century helped Australia seal an innings and a 48-run victory.

4. 6/50 vs Sri Lanka - Galle, 2016

In the second Test between Australia and Sri Lanka held at Galle in 2016, Mitchell Starc was on absolute fire. After a fifer in the first inning, the left-arm pacer again troubled the Lankans on a relatively slow pitch. He dismissed Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Mendis early. 

When the partnerships were building, Starc used reverse swing to dismiss Dilruwan Perera and Dhananjaya de Silva. He completed his spell at 6/50 in 12.3 overs, including one maiden and a 4.00 economy. 

Though Australia lost the game, Mitchell Starc finished with 11 wickets combined in two innings.

3. 6/48 vs India - Adelaide, 2024

Mitchell Starc's love affair with the pink ball is second to none. And he again tormented India in the Adelaide Test held in December 2024. On the very first ball of the inning, the left-arm pacer dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal. 

He broke the partnership for the second wicket to dismiss KL Rahul, and there was no stopping him then. Starc picked the prized wicket of Virat Kohli, followed by that of Reddy, Ashwin and Rana. 

He finished with a spell of 6/48 in 14.1 overs, including two maidens and a 3.38 economy. Australia ended up winning that Test by 10 wickets in a high-stakes Border-Gavaskar series.

2. 6/9 vs West Indies - Kingston, 2025

Mitchell Starc has mastered the art of bowling with the pink ball, and the West Indies stood no chance against him in the Kingston Test. Defending 204 runs, Starc destroyed the Windies single-handedly. 

He dismissed John Campbell on the very first ball, followed by the wickets of Mikyle Louis, Kevlon Anderson and Brandon King on 4, 0 and 0, respectively. Starc returned for a spell to clean up the tail and bowl out the Windies for just 27 runs. 

Mitchell Starc finished with 6/9 in just 7.3 overs and guided Australia to a dominant 176-run victory. This still stands as one of the most economical and deadly spells by any fast bowler in recent times.

1. 7/58 vs England - Perth, 2025

When the pressure is the highest, Mitchell Starc lights the brightest. In the Ashes 2025 opener at Perth, where Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood were unavailable due to injury, Starc not only shouldered the responsibility of leading the pace attack but also executed his task to perfection. 

In the very first over, he dismissed Zak Crawley before sending back Joe Root on a 7-ball duck. Starc also got rid of captain Ben Stokes on just 6 off 12, and with the final wicket of Mark Wood, he completed his spell of 7/58 in 12.5 overs, including four maidens and a 4.50 economy. 

It was a classic Mitchell Starc performance at home, but this time, his efforts resulted in the best bowling figure of his glorious Test career.