BRISBANE: Australia’s premier fast bowler Mitchell Starc created history under lights at the Gabba on Thursday, surpassing Pakistan legend Wasim Akram to become the highest wicket-taking left-arm fast bowler in Test cricket.
Starc achieved the milestone during the ongoing Ashes Test against England, where he produced a fiery opening spell to remove Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, and Harry Brook. With these wickets, the Australian speedster moved to 415 Test wickets in 102 matches, overtaking Akram’s tally of 414 wickets in 104 Tests.
Most Wickets by Left-Arm Pacers in Test Cricket
| Player | Team | Matches | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Starc | Australia | 102 | 415* |
| Wasim Akram | Pakistan | 104 | 414 |
| Chaminda Vaas | Sri Lanka | 111 | 355 |
| Trent Boult | New Zealand | 78 | 317 |
| Mitchell Johnson | Australia | 73 | 313 |
Starc’s Pink-Ball Dominance Continues
Starc further cemented his dominance in day-night Test cricket.
He now holds:
- 84 wickets in pink-ball Tests — the most by any bowler in the world
- The distinction of being the first player to claim more than 20 pink-ball wickets against a single opponent
Australia entered the Gabba Test with an all-seam attack, resting veteran spinner Nathan Lyon and missing regular captain Pat Cummins, who was unavailable for the match.
England Fight Back Despite Early Collapse
Despite Starc’s early breakthroughs, England steadied their innings through Zak Crawley, who struck an impressive 76 off 93 balls with 11 boundaries.
Joe Root anchored the middle order with a composed unbeaten 88, while Harry Brook contributed a quick 31 before falling to Starc.
At the time of reporting, England were 240-6, with Root and Will Jacks at the crease, looking to guide their team toward a competitive total.
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