The Ashes 2025: Mitchell Starc delights in grinding down England’s hopes

On a sunny weekend in Queensland, tourists will flock to the wineries of South Burnett to sample the produce.

But true connoisseurs will have looked to the Gabba, for the finest vintage in the state was at the crease for Australia.

Mitchell Starc, closing on his 36th birthday, shows no sign of slowing down, taking delight in grinding England’s hopes into the Brisbane dirt.

Having taken 6-75 in England’s innings, adding to his match figures of 10-113 in the first Test, Starc arrived at the crease on day two and took the game away from England.

At the time of his arrival, Australia held a first-innings lead of 49. When he departed, 34 overs later, it was at 157 and the tourists were staring firmly down the barrel of another defeat.

While England’s tailenders may favour an aggressive approach, Starc was more stoic, playing shorter lengths on merit and punishing the fuller ball in his 141-ball 77.

His strike-rate touched 200 to anything pitched up by England’s seamers, but back-of-a-length balls only went at 61 – marginally higher than his career rate of 49 to those deliveries.