Mitchell Starc Becomes Test Cricket’s Leading Left-Arm Fast Bowler

A Milestone Fourteen Years in the Making

Australian pace ace Mitchell Starc carved his name into cricketing immortality on Thursday, becoming the most successful left-arm fast bowler in the history of Test cricket. The historic moment unfolded at the Gabba when Starc removed England’s Harry Brook on Day 1 of the second Ashes Test, surpassing Pakistan icon Wasim Akram’s longstanding tally of 414 wickets.

A Record Broken at the Venue of His Debut

What amplified the significance of the achievement was its poetic backdrop. Fourteen years after making his Test debut on the same ground, the 35-year-old returned to rewrite the very benchmark set by Akram — a bowler celebrated as one of the most complete left-arm pacers the sport has ever seen.

Surpassing Greatness with Speed and Consistency

Starc crossed the milestone in his 102nd Test match, doing so slightly faster than Akram, who reached 414 wickets in 104 Tests. His recent surge in form, highlighted by a match-winning 7/58 in Perth the previous week, has accelerated his climb up the all-time wicket-takers chart. With this feat, Starc now occupies the 16th spot overall, with Shaun Pollock (421) and Harbhajan Singh (417) within reach, while the legendary Richard Hadlee’s 431 wickets loom further ahead.

Most Test Wickets by Left-Arm Seamers

415* – Mitchell Starc
414 – Wasim Akram
355 – Chaminda Vaas
317 – Trent Boult
311 – Zaheer Khan

Ashes Drama Adds Intensity to the Achievement

Starc’s record-breaking moment came amid a thrilling Ashes contest. Under the pink ball, he delivered a fiery opening burst that left England reeling at 5/2 inside the first three overs. Ben Duckett fell for a golden duck, edging a full-length outswinger to first slip, while Ollie Pope chopped on soon after as Australia tightened their grip from the outset.

England’s Fightback Through Crawley and Root

However, Zak Crawley and Joe Root steadied the innings, guiding England to 98/2 by tea. The duo showcased resilience, surviving a testing spell as the pink ball softened. Root also benefited from a sharp chance spilled by Steve Smith, allowing England to regain some control.

A Day Marked by Tribute and Triumph

The day began on a somber note, with both teams donning black armbands and observing a moment of silence for former England batter Robin Smith, who passed away unexpectedly on December 1. Amid the tribute, Starc’s landmark performance added a historic layer to an already emotional day of Test cricket.

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Sorit Chaudhary

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