Australian speedster Mitchell Starc dismissed England slugger Harry Brook as his 415th wicket in Test cricket. With this wicket, he is now the most successful left-arm pacer in the history of red-ball cricket.
The Ashes are underway and Australia are once again dominating the series on home soil with an early lead over England after the first Test in Perth. Starc single-handedly picked 10 wickets in two innings in Perth and was highly appreciated for his performance.
The Ashes marked some commendable performances from the pace bowlers and Starc was the pick of the bowlers. In the absence of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, Starc has soaked up his experience on the pitch.
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Mitchell Starc surpasses Wasim Akram to become most elite left-arm pacer
As Australia arrived for the second Test at the Gabba, Mitchell Starc delivered the pink ball. He extends his fantasy record with the shiny ball in Day and Night games. Starc picked three wickets in the innings and, with the dismissal of Harry Brook, he surpassed the Pakistani paceman’s old record.
Wasim Akram, considered one of the greatest left-arm pacers in the history of the game, had picked 414 wickets in his career, which spanned 104 matches. Brook’s dismissal marked Starc’s 415th wicket ever.
Mitchell Starc reached the record slightly before the Pakistani veteran as he reached the record with 102* matches and two matches. She took her record to over 13 wickets so far in two matches in the Ashes. The first 10 wickets came in Perth with 7 and 3 wickets respectively in two innings.
Starc closes in on Richard Hadlee on all-time Test record
Mitchell Starc achieved this feat recently and is closing in on the record of several other spinners in the group. With 415 wickets to his name, he is behind Shaun Pollock, Harbhajan Singh and even former New Zealand pacer Richard Hadlee.
Starc now stands 16th on the list of all-time red-ball wicket-takers as he is just 2 wickets away from surpassing Harbhajan Singh’s record. Starc is also just 7 wickets away from surpassing former South Africa pacer Shaun Pollock as he can surpass this Ashes record.
New Zealand legend Richard Hadlee has taken 431 wickets throughout his career, and Mitchell Starc will be the second highest wicket-taker among Oceania seamers. For now, only Glenn McGrath has more wickets than him.
Mitchell Starc emerges as Australia’s strongest contender in this Ashes
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