mitchell starc

Mitchell Starc: The Ashes Colossus and Australia’s Unyielding Weapon

Byline: The Australian Sports Desk
Date: December 2025
Category: Cricket / The Ashes

In the cauldron of the Brisbane Gabba, where the summer heat meets the fierce rivalry of the Ashes, a familiar figure ran in to deliver a ball that would yet again define his career. Mitchell Starc, now a veteran of the Australian pace attack, delivered a spell of such ferocity that it left England’s batting lineup in tatters and pundits scrambling for superlatives.

While the narrative of the 2025/26 Ashes series is still being written, Starc’s performance in the Second Test has cemented his status not just as a bowler, but as an all-round force of nature. He is breaking hearts, rewriting record books, and proving that the "vibes of Johnson" still run through the veins of Australian cricket.

This is the story of Mitchell Starc’s resurgence, his place among the Ashes greats, and why he remains the most feared left-arm quick in world cricket.

The Gabba Onslaught: A Masterclass in Pace and Precision

The Second Test of the 2025/26 Ashes series was billed as a must-win for England after a tight opening encounter. However, Mitchell Starc had other ideas. According to reports from cricket.com.au, Starc’s performance in Brisbane was nothing short of "special," propelling him into the upper echelons of Ashes bowling legends.

Bowling with a menacing blend of raw pace and surgical swing, Starc dismantled the English top order. The ball zipped off the pitch, hemming in the batsmen and forcing errors. It wasn't just about speed; it was about intelligence. Starc utilized the conditions at the Gabba to perfection, exploiting the new ball and then returning to clean up the tail with his trademark yorkers.

The statistics from the innings were staggering, but they only told half the story. It was the manner of the wickets that stunned the opposition. The sheer hostility of his bowling created an atmosphere of intimidation, a psychological barrier that England simply could not breach.

"Vibes of Johnson": The Psychological Edge

The comparison to Mitchell Johnson’s terrifying 2013-14 Ashes campaign is not one made lightly. In an article analyzing Starc’s recent exploits, the BBC noted that Starc continues to "break England hearts" with a performance that evoked the "vibes of Johnson."

Just as Johnson terrorized England with a chaotic, aggressive pace a decade ago, Starc has channeled that same energy in the 2025/26 series. There is a palpable shift in momentum when Starc is at the top of his mark. The crowd rises, the noise levels peak, and the opposition visibly recoils.

This psychological warfare is a crucial component of the Ashes. Starc understands that his role is not merely to take wickets, but to unsettle. His ability to produce unplayable deliveries under pressure—swinging the ball back in sharply to the right-hander or angling it across the left-hander—forces batsmen into survival mode rather than scoring mode. In Brisbane, he didn't just take wickets; he broke spirits.

The Ultimate All-Rounder: The Bat-and-Ball Double Whammy

What separates the great bowlers from the legends is their ability to contribute with the bat. In the modern game, Mitchell Starc has set a benchmark for lower-order batting that is the envy of bowlers worldwide.

The Guardian aptly described his contribution in Brisbane as a "bat-and-ball double whammy at dusk." Starc’s innings with the bat were as crucial as his wickets. In a pivotal moment of the Test match, when Australia needed to accelerate the scoring or build a defensible lead, Starc stepped up.

He doesn't just slog; he bats. His technique against spin and pace is robust, and his hand-eye coordination is exceptional. By scoring quick runs down the order, he demoralizes the opposition bowling attack, which has just toiled hard to dismiss the top order, only to be smacked around by a "number 9" or "number 10."

This dual threat makes Australia a dangerous side. If a team manages to restrict the Australian top order, the presence of Starc—capable of shifting the momentum of the match in a single session—means no total is ever truly safe, and no deficit is insurmountable.

Among the Ashes Greats

The 2025/26 series has been a reminder of the rich lineage of Australian pace bowling. From Thomson to Lillee, McGrath to Johnson, the tradition is relentless. Cricket.com.au posits that Starc’s recent feats put him squarely among these greats.

While some critics in the past have questioned his consistency compared to the metronomic Glenn McGrath, Starc offers a different threat: the ability to blow a team away in a short, devastating burst. His match-winning spells often come at times when the game is in the balance, turning draws into victories and losses into draws.

As he climbs the all-time wicket-takers list in Ashes cricket, the conversation shifts from "where does he rank?" to "how high can he go?" His longevity, combined with his ability to maintain high pace late into his career, is a testament to his fitness and professionalism.

The Verdict: A Legend of the Modern Era

Mitchell Starc is currently enjoying a purple patch that ranks as one of the finest of his career. The combination of the "vibes of Johnson," the tactical nous of a veteran, and the explosive power of a genuine all-rounder makes him the complete cricketer.

For England, he remains the ultimate nightmare—a bowler who can swing the ball prodigiously, hit the deck hard, and score vital runs. For Australia, he is the talisman. As the series progresses, all eyes will remain fixed on the left-arm quick. If he continues to bowl with the venom displayed in Brisbane, the Ashes urn may well be staying Down Under.

The 2025/26 Ashes will be remembered for many moments, but the indelible mark of Mitchell Starc—breaking hearts and setting records—will undoubtedly be the defining narrative of the series.