Taking his 17th Test five-wicket haul, he finished with 7 for 58 off 12.5 overs.
Australia's pace spearhead Mitchell Starc recorded his 17th five-wicket haul on Friday and sent England's batting unit into disarray on day one of the first Ashes Test at Perth Stadium.
Leading the attack superbly in the absence of captain Pat Cummins and stalwart Josh Hazlewood, Starc recorded figures of 5-54, his fifth Ashes "five-fer", midway through the second session as he helped dismiss England for 172.
The 35-year-old fast bowler got Australia's Ashes defence off to the perfect start in the first over of the day, dismissing Zak Crawley for a duck.
He followed up by trapping Ben Duckett lbw for 21 and having Joe Root caught for a duck. Ben Stokes departed for six, clean-bowled by a 141 kph inswinger before Gus Atkinson was swallowed up in the slips cordon for one.
Starc then had Jamie Smith out for a 22-ball 33 before having Mark Wood caught behind for a duck, to finish with 7 for 58 off 12.5 overs.
"I guess a nice way to start a series," Starc said in an interview on the boundary at Perth Stadium.
"It's only one innings, but obviously there's been a lot made about the two boys not being here and I guess me being the experienced one. So, nice to lead that way."
His debutant teammate Brendan Doggett chipped in with two wickets, including that of dangerman Harry Brook, and all-rounder Cameron Green grabbed another to break up a threatening England partnership.
Those wickets vindicated Starc's confidence in Australia's makeshift bowling attack.
"I have full confidence," he said. "Scotty (Boland)'s been around for a long time, we know what he can do, not his day today, but we know how good he is.
"I was really excited to see Brendan get his crack today, and I thought he showed great composure, so great to see him get a couple of wickets.
"There's been a bit made about it, as I said, but happy to lead that way. And it's only one innings, so a long way to go in this series."
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