“One-Man Demolition!” Mitchell Starc Destroys England with Bat AND Ball

Mitchell Starc produced one of the finest all-round performances of his Test career as Australia asserted firm control over the day–night Ashes Test in Brisbane. The left-arm quick, already the tormentor-in-chief with the ball, added a crucial 77 with the bat, leaving England struggling for answers on the third day. Australia were eventually dismissed for 511 in their first innings, securing a commanding 177-run lead.

England’s attack, so disciplined on the opening day, seemed to wilt under the pressure of a relentless Australian lower order—particularly the ninth-wicket partnership between Starc and Scott Boland. The pair occupied the crease for 27.2 overs, frustrating England and stretching Australia’s total beyond 500. Starc’s 141-ball effort was an innings of resilience, patience and timely aggression. His dismissal, caught off Brydon Carse, finally broke the stand, but the damage had already been done.

Remarkably, despite the big total, not a single Australian batter reached three figures. It was only the fifth instance in Test history of a team crossing 500 without a century, a feat previously achieved by Sri Lanka against Bangladesh in Chattogram in 2024. Five Australian batters registered half-centuries—Jack Weatherald (72), Marnus Labuschagne (65), Steve Smith (61), Alex Carey (63), and Starc himself with 77. All five fell between 60 and 80, an exceedingly rare occurrence in Test cricket.

England’s reply began with unexpected fluency. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett raced to 45 without loss in just six overs, reducing the deficit to 132 by the close of play. While the target remains formidable, England have twice overturned greater first-innings deficits to win Ashes Tests—once in 1894 and again in 1981. History, however, offers little consolation against the evidence of Australia’s dominance so far.

Starc’s achievements extended beyond this match alone. With his fifty today, he recorded his 12th Test half-century and his fifth against England. More significantly, he became the first Australian since Mitchell Johnson in 2013—also at Brisbane—to take a five-wicket haul and score a fifty in the same Ashes Test. Starc also surpassed Stuart Broad’s tally of runs at No. 9, becoming the highest scorer in that position with 1,408 runs.

Boland, unbeaten on 21 from 72 balls, played a vital supporting role, ensuring England were forced into the field far longer than anticipated. Brendan Doggett added a brisk 13 before the innings concluded.

Australia had ended day two on 378 for six after 73 overs, and although England managed to claim four wickets on the third day, the Australian tail wagged vigorously, stretching the home side’s advantage and tightening their grip on the match.

England will resume still 132 runs behind, hoping their openers can build on their confident start. They face not only the scoreboard pressure but also the challenge of overcoming a fired-up Australian attack led by Starc—arguably in some of the best all-round form of his Test career.