Mitchell Starc has added another remarkable achievement to his career, becoming the first left-arm bowler in cricket history to take 450 wickets in Test matches. The Australian fast bowler reached the milestone during the ongoing second Test against South Africa at St George’s Park in Gqeberha.
Mitchell Starc, who is leading Australia’s pace attack in the match, reached the landmark by dismissing South African all-rounder Wiaan Mulder on Tuesday. Wiaan Mulder scored 13 runs off 38 balls before Matt Renshaw took the catch during the morning session on Day 3.
Earlier, Mitchell Starc had opened his account in the match by removing Matthew Breetzke, who scored just four runs. Alex Carey completed that catch on Day 2, which was affected by rain. With Wiaan Mulder’s dismissal, Mitchell Starc became the first left-arm bowler, whether a fast bowler or a spinner, to claim 450 Test wickets. Among left-arm bowlers with the most wickets in Test cricket, he is followed by Rangana Herath, Wasim Akram, Daniel Vettori and Ravindra Jadeja.
Mitchell Starc has also joined an elite group of Australian bowlers to reach the 450-wicket mark in Tests. He is the fourth Australian to achieve this feat, following legendary bowlers Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Nathan Lyon.
The 109th Test of Mitchell Starc’s Australian career has also seen him break Glenn McGrath’s record for the fewest balls bowled to reach 450 Test wickets. Mitchell Starc achieved the milestone in just 20,577 balls, comfortably surpassing Glenn McGrath’s previous record of 23,474 balls.
However, when it comes to the number of Test matches required to reach 450 wickets, Mitchell Starc ranks second among fast bowlers. Glenn McGrath reached the milestone in 100 Tests, while Mitchell Starc needed 109 matches.
The overall record for the fewest Test matches to reach 450 wickets belongs to Sri Lankan spin legend Muthiah Muralidaran, who achieved the feat in just 80 Tests. India’s Ravichandran Ashwin follows with 89 Tests, while Anil Kumble reached the landmark in 93 matches. Among Australian bowlers, Glenn McGrath took 100 Tests to reach 450 wickets, followed by Shane Warne, who achieved the milestone in 101 matches. Mitchell Starc completed the feat in his 109th Test.
While Mitchell Starc has rewritten the record books by reaching 450 Test wickets in the fewest balls, Muthiah Muralidaran continues to hold the overall record for reaching the milestone in the fewest matches. The Sri Lankan great claimed his 450th Test wicket in his 80th appearance, keeping him ahead of every other bowler on the list.
Mitchell Starc’s latest achievement further strengthens his place among Australia’s greatest Test bowlers and highlights his lasting impact as one of the most successful left-arm fast bowlers in cricket history.
Congratulations, Mitchell Starc!
Harmanpreet Kaur Scripts History, Leaves Behind Smriti Mandhana As She Breaks Record….
Pranav Soorma, Asian Para Games Gold Winner, Compares His Feat To Virat Kohli’s Heroics
Indian Cricketer Shafali Verma Punished By ICC After She Won The Player Of The Match Award
Mohammed Shami Sends Strong Message To Selectors After India Snub, “I’m Still At My Peak”
