Australia's veteran paceman Mitchell Starc has single-handedly reignited his team's Ashes campaign with a devastating bowling performance on Day 3 at the WACA Ground in Perth. His six-wicket haul skittled England for 237, handing Australia a potentially match-defining first-innings lead of 128 runs.
Starc's Fiery Spell Turns the Tide
Resuming at 4/108, England harboured hopes of building a substantial total. However, Mitchell Starc had other ideas. The left-arm quick produced a masterclass in fast, aggressive bowling, exploiting the Perth conditions with precision. He claimed the key wickets of Ben Duckett (45), the dangerous Jonny Bairstow (22), and Chris Woakes in quick succession to break the back of England's middle order.
Starc's final figures of 6 for 65 from 24 overs represented his best Ashes performance on home soil and the 18th five-wicket haul of his illustrious Test career. His relentless attack left the English batting lineup with no answers, with only captain Ben Stokes offering prolonged resistance with a gritty 58.
England's Collapse and Australia's Commanding Position
Supported by tidy spells from captain Pat Cummins (2/48) and Nathan Lyon (1/49), Starc's brilliance ensured England lost their last six wickets for just 129 runs. The tourists' total of 237 looked well short on a pitch that still offered good pace and bounce.
This collapse handed Australia a significant first-innings lead of 128 runs. By the close of play on Saturday, December 6th, 2025, the Australian openers had navigated a tricky four-over period to reach 0/12, extending the overall lead to 140 runs. With two full days of play remaining, the home side is now firmly in the box seat to level the series.
Series Context and What Comes Next
This third Test is a pivotal moment in the 2025 Ashes series. England currently leads the five-match series 1-0 after a tense victory in the second Test. A win for Australia in Perth would square the series and set up a thrilling finale in the remaining two matches.
All eyes will now be on the Australian batsmen on Day 4. The task is clear: build a massive second-innings total and leave England an improbable target to chase on a wearing WACA pitch. Mitchell Starc has given his team the perfect platform; it is now up to the top order to convert this advantage into a series-levelling victory.
The pressure is squarely back on England's bowlers, who must produce early breakthroughs on Sunday to prevent the game from slipping entirely beyond their reach.
