Joe Root bags 7-ball duck as Mitchell Starc continues to breathe fire on Day 1 of AUS vs ENG Ashes 2025-26 1st Test [Watch]

England ace batter Joe Root's 2025-26 Ashes campaign kick-started on the worst possible note as he was dismissed by Mitchell Starc for a seven-ball duck in the series opener at the Optus Stadium in Perth. The right-handed batter nicked one off to third slip in the first session of Day 1 on Friday, November 21.

Joe Root had to tackle a raging Mitchell Starc straight up after Ben Duckett's dismissal against the run of play in the seventh over. The veteran left-arm pacer had set the tempo with Zak Crawley's dismissal in the opening over, but England had managed to recover with a counter-attack in the following overs.

The former England skipper, whose questionable record in Australia has been a major talking point during the build-up, looked desperate to get off the mark, and nearly got an edge off his second delivery. He continued to be scratchy against the pacer in the next over, eventually getting caught all ends up against a length delivery that seamed away from him from the leg stump line.

Root tried to fend off the delivery by looking to nudge it away to the leg side, but in the process, exposed the bat's edge. The ball proceeded to land straight to Marnus Labuschagne at third slip to seal the major breakthrough. Have a look at the dismissal right here:

Mitchell Starc has been at his rampant best, leading the inexperienced pace attack in Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood's absence. The veteran pacer's figures read 3-17 off six overs so far, which includes three maidens as well.

Joe Root was dismissed for a duck in the 2021-22 Ashes opener in Brisbane as well

This marks Joe Root's sixth duck against Australia, and the third Down Under. The ace batter had kick-started his previous Ashes campaign in the country with a duck as well after perishing without scoring after nine balls on Day 1 at The Gabba in Brisbane. On that occasion, he was dismissed by Josh Hazlewood.

At the time of writing, England are in a spot of trouble at 51-3 in the 12th over. Debutant Brendan Doggett has been introduced into the attack from one end as the visitors look to recover through Ollie Pope and Harry Brook.

Follow IPL Auction 2025 Live Updates, News & Biddings at Sportskeeda. Get the fastest updates on Mega-Auction and cricket news

Edited by Gokul Nair