Cricket

Mitchell Starc named Ashes player of the series

Jan 8, 2026

Australian paceman Mitchell Starc says his Ashes player of the series performance was built on maintaining high standards for longer rather than doing anything new.

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Starc was undoubtedly the best bowler on either side and beat out nearest rival Travis Head to claim the award for the first time.

The left-arm quick took 31 wickets at 19.93, the most scalps he has claimed in a Test series in his career.

"I felt like if I could do my role well ... that's the best thing I could do for the team," the 35-year-old told reporters after the series wrapped up.

"It wasn't about doing more, it was probably more about doing the good stuff for longer."

Starc was made to contend with injuries to usual partners-in-crime Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood, who played three Tests between them this summer.

His captain could not have been more pleased with the performance put in by the leader of his attack, along with the workload of fellow veteran Scott Boland.

"(Starc) in particular - man of the series - has been incredible ... and him and Scotty playing all five games was a huge effort," Steve Smith said.

When the series was alive, Starc was Australia's key man, winning player of the match in two of the first three Tests.

Starc was asked whether he was in career-best form as he accepted the award after Australia's victory in the fifth Test at the SCG.

"Maybe," he said.

"It feels like it's going okay, the body's still holding together. It's a great group to be a part of. It's a lot of fun.

In the first Test in Perth, Starc took wickets in the first over of both England innings and finished the first innings with career-best figures of 7-58.

At the Gabba in the second Test, Starc passed Pakistani legend Wasim Akram to become the most prolific left-arm seamer in Test history.

He dismissed England captain Ben Stokes and opener Ben Duckett five times each across the five matches.

Starc also proved a handy contributor with the bat, notching two half-centuries and top-scoring in the second Test with 77.

The Compton-Miller Medal, named after English legend Denis Compton and Australian great Keith Miller, is decided by collating votes from the series' official broadcasters.

Steve Smith, Travis Head and Mitchell Johnson are among other Australians to have won the award since it was inaugurated in 2005.