Mitchell Starc continued his Ashes 2025-26 heroics, leading Australia to the edge of a comprehensive second Test victory as England closed Day 3 trailing by 43 runs at 134 for 6.
Starc starred with both bat and ball, top-scoring with 77 off 141 in Australia’s first innings of 511, while also claiming key wickets under the lights. His innings, filled with calculated aggression, helped secure a 177-run first-innings lead, leaving England staring at potential humiliation in Brisbane’s stifling heat.
England’s middle order offered brief resistance through Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, but quicks Scott Boland and Michael Neser exploited inconsistencies in the visitors’ batting. Starc returned in the final session to rip through the tail, removing Joe Root and Jamie Smith to tighten Australia’s grip on the match.
Accordingly, Starc played a key role in Australia’s disciplined batting display, contributing to a 50+ partnership alongside Marnus Labuschagne (65), Steve Smith (61), and Alex Carey (63), showcasing the team’s depth. His performance marked a rare feat: the first Australian to score a fifty and take a five-wicket haul in an Ashes match since Mitchell Johnson in 2013-14.
England’s hopes now rest on a miraculous turnaround as Australia inch closer to an early Day 4 finish, with Starc’s brilliance exemplifying the gulf between the sides at the Gabba.
