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Australian ace pacer Mitchell Starc once again showed why he is the best bowler, especially in pink-ball cricket, during the second Ashes Test at the Gabba. The veteran seamer produced a brilliant opening spell, removing Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope for ducks and putting England under pressure early in the Day. His brilliance helped him create multiple records.

The day-night Test in Brisbane began with England winning the toss and choosing to bat. With Pat Cummins missing out and Australia opting for an all-pace attack, leaving out Nathan Lyon for only the second time at home since 2012. 

Starc produced a wicket in the very last ball of his first over, dismissing Ben Duckett for a golden duck with a full outswinger that took the edge and flew to Marnus Labuschagne at slip. In his next over, he sent Ollie Pope back for another duck as the England batter chopped the delivery onto his stumps.

With the wicket, Starc now has 83 wickets in Day-Night Tests, the most by any bowler in the world. He is 40 wickets ahead of his teammate Cummins, who sits at second place with 43 wickets. Furthermore, with the wicket of Duckett, the left-arm seamer became the first player ever to take 20 wickets against a single team (England) in pink-ball Tests.

20* - Mitchell Starc vs England

17 - Starc vs West Indies

16 - Shamar Joseph vs Australia

16 - Alzarri Joseph vs Australia

Starc’s breakthrough spell also helped him equal Wasim Akram’s 414 Test wickets, making him the joint-highest wicket-taker among left-arm pacers. He achieved the feat in 102 Tests, faster than Akram, who took 104 matches. England began the second Ashes Test by choosing to bat first, but they got off to a poor start, thanks to Starc’s opening spell, removing both Duckett and Pope. From there, Zak Crawley and Joe Root stabilized the innings. Despite Australia’s all-pace attack, the pair put on a strong partnership and pushed England to 98/2 by Tea break.