35-Year-Old Starc Crowned Ashes Player of Series, Not Top Scorer Head

• Mitchell Starc, 35, won the Player of the Series award in the 2025-26 Ashes, despite Travis Head being the highest run-scorer.
• Starc played all five matches, taking 31 wickets and scoring 156 runs with two half-centuries, contributing to Australia's 4-1 win.
• Head, 32, amassed 608 runs with three centuries, including a 163-run knock in the fifth Test, but was overlooked for the top award.
• Starc was the highest wicket-taker, secured two Player of the Match awards, and equalled Rangana Herath's record for most Test wickets by a left-arm bowler.
• His standout performance included 7/58 in the first innings of the first Test at Optus Stadium in Perth.

Why It Matters: Mitchell Starc's all-round brilliance earned him the Ashes Player of the Series over top-scorer Travis Head.