Wasim Akram ‘still on top’: Mitchell Starc after breaking Pakistan legend’s record | Cricket News
NEW DELHI: Australian pace great Mitchell Starc, who overtook Pakistani legend Wasim Akram to become the best left-arm fast bowler in Test cricket, says Akram remains unmatched in his eyes.Go beyond borders with our YouTube channel. REGISTER NOW!For Starc, the milestone – reached in another impressive pink-ball performance – is humbling.
“Wasim is still the pinnacle and best,” Starc said when asked about surpassing the Pakistani great.Starc’s figures of 6/71 marked his sixth five-wicket haul in the day-night Tests, the most among any bowler, and extended his exceptional dominance with the pink ball. He now has 87 wickets in pink-ball Tests – far ahead of the next best, teammates Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins, who have 43 each.By the end of the game, Starc had moved to 418 Test wickets in 102 matches at an average of 26.42, with best figures of 7/58. His tally includes 18 five-wicket hauls and three 10-wicket match hauls, making him the fourth-highest wicket-taker for Australia in Test history.Reflecting on his record-breaking day, Starc admitted he couldn’t even fully explain his remarkable success with the pink ball.“I get asked that all the time, I still don’t know. It is what it is. I think it’s always like a white ball. Today it was a soft ball. A few Yorkshiremen, runs and wickets. Joe (Root) batted well there. Quite a tough day’s cricket,” he said.“I think once the ball gets soft, it’s not the easiest thing to score with. It’s definitely not the easiest thing to play with when it’s soft. Pink ball, 9 for 320, pretty solid Test cricket for the day,” he said. His achievement drew warm praise from Wasim Akram himself, who congratulated Starc with a message on X.“Great Starc! Proud of you, mate. Your incredible hard work sets you apart, and it was only a matter of time before you surpassed my number of wickets. I’m happy to give it to you! Go well and continue to rise to new heights in your brilliant career,” Akram wrote.
Earlier in the day, England won the toss and elected to bat. Starc struck early, removing Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope as the Ducks left England reeling at 5/2. Joe Root then rebuilt the innings with a 117-run partnership alongside Zak Crawley, who scored 76 off 93 balls with 11 boundaries. Root then added another crucial stand with Harry Brook, who made 31 off 33 balls.Australia regained momentum through a strong outing from Josh Inglis which dismissed England captain Ben Stokes for 19 and triggered a middle-order slide. Starc completed his five-wicket haul as England collapsed to 264/9, before a late burst from Root and Jofra Archer – who smashed an unbeaten 32 off 26 balls with a four and two sixes – lifted the visitors to 325/9 at stumps on the first day.
