Mitchell Starc accomplishes this Ashes feat with 77-run knock: Details
What's the story
Australian pacer Mitchell Starc has achieved a rare all-round feat in the ongoing 2025/26 Ashes series. He became only the fourth player this century to take a five-wicket haul and record a 50-plus score in the same Test match of an Ashes series. Starc accomplished this elite double with a 77-run knock in the second innings of the ongoing Day-Night Test in Brisbane. Here are further details.
Match highlights
Starc's impressive performance in the series
Starc began the series with a career-best seven-wicket haul in Perth's first Test. He followed it up with another five-wicket haul, taking six wickets for 75 runs in the ongoing Gabba Test. His brilliance meant the Brits were restricted to 334/10 batting first. The left-arm pacer has been instrumental in Australia's bowling attack, even dismissing England's star batsman Joe Root in both innings of the Perth Test.
Batting brilliance
Starc's batting prowess shines through
On Day 3 of the Gabba Test, Starc showed his batting skills by scoring a fine half-century. The Aussies were well placed at 383/7 when the southpaw arrived. He held his ground against the English bowlers and dominated a 75-run stand with Scott Boland for the ninth wicket. Though Starc missed out on his maiden Test hundred, his brilliance meant Australia finished at 511/10 - securing a massive 177-run lead.
Elite list
Starc joins these names
Starc's 77 off 141 balls was laced with 13 fours. As per ESPNcricinfo, he became only the fourth player this century to take a five-fer and register a 50-plus score in the same Ashes Test. Mitchell Johnson was the last all-rounder with this feat, having attained it in the 2013/14 Ashes Down Under. The other two players to achieve this double since 2000 are Andrew Flintoff and Stuart Broad.
Stats
Here are his Test numbers
Across 102 Test matches, Starc has raced to 2,411 runs at 20.60. He hit his 12th fifty as his best score reads 99. Nine of his fifties have come while operating at nine or lower. No other player has even seven such scores in these positions. In the Ashes, Starc has raced to 688 runs from 24 Tests at 25.48. This was his fifth fifty, and the best score against England.
Bowling stats
Most successful left-arm fast bowler in Test cricket
Earlier in the game, Starc became the most successful left-arm fast bowler in Test cricket history. He surpassed Pakistan legend Wasim Akram's record of 414 wickets. The Australian has now completed 418 Test wickets at 26.43. The one in the ongoing Brisbane game marked Starc's 18th fifer in Test cricket. He also owns 20 four-wicket hauls.