The Ashes: Mitchell Starc takes classic catch to remove Zak Crawley for a pair in First Test

Mitchell Starc continues to put the Aussies on his back in Perth, completing an epic return catch off his own bowling for yet another first-over wicket.

Starc returned to the bowling crease inside the opening 40 minutes on Day 2 in Perth, fresh off his seven-wicket haul in the first innings.

And after starring on opening day, the the veteran saved his best effort for the first over of his second-innings spell.

Zak Crawley prodded forward as he looked to avoid a First Test pair, pushing one straight down the middle of the pitch and seemingly out of Starc’s reach as he veered right in his follow-through.

But the veteran quick managed to halt his body’s momentum and stick out his left hand to pouch the return catch before falling to the turf.

The effort passed an examination from the third umpire, securing a wicket for Starc in the first over of a Test innings for the 25th time.

It marked the first occurrence in Test history of the score being 1-0 in three consecutive innings to open a match, and was also the first Test pair in Crawley’s career.

It left Starc with eight of the first 11 wickets snared by Australia as they look to overcome a 40-run deficit on the first innings.