As the final Test of the 2025–26 Ashes unfolds at the Sydney Cricket Ground, one name continues to dominate the conversation — Mitchell Starc. Leading the Australian team’s bowling attack in the deciding match against England, the left-arm pacer once again showed why he remains one of the most feared bowlers in Test cricket.
Mitchell Starc, currently ranked No. 2 in the ICC Test bowler’s rankings, made an impact early in the match. After picking up a wicket on Day 1, he struck again on Monday morning, January 5, delivering a major blow by dismissing England’s Test captain Ben Stokes.
Ben Stokes, who came in to bat at number six during England’s first innings, lasted just 11 balls before edging one behind to wicketkeeper Alex Carey. The dismissal came on the fifth ball of the 51st over, leaving England further on the back foot.
This wicket was significant for more than one reason. It marked the fifth time in the ongoing Ashes series that Mitchell Starc has dismissed Ben Stokes. Even more impressively, it was the 14th time Mitchell Starc has removed Ben Stokes in Test cricket overall, making him the bowler who has dismissed the England captain the most times in the format. In doing so, Mitchell Starc moved past Ravichandran Ashwin, who had dismissed Ben Stokes 13 times during his Test career before retiring in December 2024.
In the list of bowlers who have troubled Ben Stokes the most in Tests, Mitchell Starc and R Ashwin are followed by Australia’s Nathan Lyon with 10 dismissals and India’s Ravindra Jadeja with eight.
Mitchell Starc’s wicket of Ben Stokes was also his 28th of the 2025–26 Ashes series, underlining his consistency throughout the contest. It also took his overall Test wicket tally to 430. With just a few more breakthroughs needed, Mitchell Starc is now closing in on another major milestone. If he manages at least four more wickets in the match, he will surpass former Sri Lanka spinner Rangana Herath, who finished his career with 433 Test wickets, to become the most successful left-arm bowler in Test cricket history.
Amid Mitchell Starc’s dominance, England did find a moment of celebration through Joe Root. Widely regarded as England’s greatest Test batter, Joe Root brought up his 41st Test century on Monday. The Yorkshire batter reached the milestone by running two runs off the first ball of the 60th over, bowled by Michael Neser, giving England something to hold on to in an otherwise challenging outing.
