New Delhi: Australian pacer Mitchell Starc etched his name in history after breaking Sri Lanka legend Rangana Herath’s record for most wickets by a left-arm bowler in Test cricket on Thursday.
Starc achieved the feat during the opening day of the ongoing first Test between Australia and Bangladesh at the Marrara Cricket Ground in Darwin.
Starc dismissed Bangladesh opener Shadman Islam cheaply on 20 in the visitors’ first innings to become the most successful left-arm bowler in Test history. Islam was caught by Nathan Lyon off the bowling of Starc in the 9th over of Bangladesh’s first innings. With the wicket, Starc surpassed Herath in the elite list of left-arm bowlers with the most wickets in Tests.
The Australian left-arm pacer now has 434 wickets in 106 Test matches, while Herath finished with 433 wickets in 93 matches in his Test career. Legendary Pakistan pacer Wasim Akram is in the third spot in the elite list with 414 wickets in 104 Test matches.
Most wickets by left-arm bowlers in Test cricket:
Mitchell Starc – 434 wickets
Rangana Herath – 433 wickets
Wasim Akram – 414 wickets
Daniel Vettori – 362 wickets
Chaminda Vaas – 355 wickets
Starc close to breaking into top 10 highest wicket-takers in Tests
Meanwhile, Starc is now close to breaking into the elite list of top ten highest wicket-takers in Test cricket. He is currently the joint 11th-highest wicket-taker in the longest format alongside India legend Kapil Dev with 434 wickets to his name. The 36-year-old needs only six more wickets to break into the top ten of leading wicket-takers in Tests.
South Africa great Dale Steyn is currently in the tenth spot on the elite list with 493 wickets in 93 Test matches. One of the greatest fast bowlers to have played the game, Starc has so far picked up 247 wickets in 130 matches in his ODI career, and has 434 wickets to his name in Tests. He has been part of Australia’s ODI World Cup-winning teams in 2015 and 2023.
Starc also played a key role in Australia’s maiden World Test Championship (WTC) triumph in 2023. He is currently the second-highest wicket-taker in Tests behind his teammate Lyon among active players.