Tag: Mitchell Starc

BRISBANE: Australian spearhead Mitchell Starc is on the verge of breaking the record of Pakistan’s iconic pacer Wasim Akram during the upcoming Ashes Test against England.

Since making his Test debut in 2011, Starc has claimed 412 wickets in 101 matches over a remarkable 14-year career.

He now needs just two more wickets to equal Akram’s tally of 414, the benchmark for left-arm fast bowlers in Test cricket.

Most Wickets in Test cricket by Left-Arm Pacers:

Player	Team	Matches	Wickets
Wasim Akram	Pakistan	104	414
Mitchell Starc	Australia	101	412*
Chaminda Vaas	Sri Lanka	111	355
Trent Boult	New Zealand	78	317
Mitchell Johnson	Australia	73	313

The 35-year-old’s pursuit of this milestone comes as he continues to solidify his place among the all-time greats of the game.

During the opening Ashes Test at Perth, he almost single-handedly spearheaded Australia’s depleted pace attack, taking 7 for 58 in the first innings and finishing with ten wickets in the match to dismantle England.

Overall, 2025 has been a phenomenal year for the left-armer, who has picked up 39 wickets at an average of just 15.71.

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If he maintains this form in the upcoming second Ashes Test starting on December 4, Starc has a perfect opportunity to surpass Akram.

Achieving six wickets in the match could see him climb from 17th to 15th on the list of all-time Test wicket-takers, overtaking Akram (414) and India’s Harbhajan Singh (417).

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PERTH: Australia pacer Mitchell Starc marked his name among Ashes greats on a dramatic opening day at Optus Stadium, producing a blistering spell that dismantled England and carried him to a major personal milestone.

The left-arm quick ransacked the visitors with a sensational 7-for, helping bowl England out for 172 in the second session on Friday.

Starc’s haul not only turned the momentum sharply in Australia’s favour but also etched him into Ashes history. With his 100th wicket in the storied rivalry, he became just the 21st bowler, and the 13th Australian, to reach the landmark.

He joins Nathan Lyon as the only active players in either squad with 100-plus Ashes wickets; Lyon currently sits at 110. Starc reached the feat in 23 Tests.

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England’s innings offered flickers of resistance through Harry Brook’s brisk 52 and Ollie Pope’s 46 before they folded after Lunch.

However, the script flipped just as dramatically in the final session.

In a day that turned into a pace-bowling spectacle, Ben Stokes led a fierce English response with a commanding 5-23, dragging his side back into the contest and stunning the Australian top order.

By stumps, Australia were reeling at 123-9, still 49 runs behind, as 19 wickets fell in a single day of gripping, high-octane cricket.

READ: Stokes sparks England comeback on 19-wicket opening day of Ashes

Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc has urged the curators to prepare spicy tracks for the upcoming five-match Ashes series against England.

The first Ashes Test will commence on 21 November at the Perth Stadium.

At the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Starc expressed his hope that the curators would prepare the wickets according to their preferences, instead of opting for a five-day match.

“I hope the groundsmen stick to their guns and prepare the wickets they want. If we are worried about five days of revenue then there’s bigger problems at hand,” he said.

The left-arm pacer also admitted that he has a problem with his bowling and is still searching for his rhythm.

“It has been a while (since I played first-class cricket), probably too long if I had my time again,” Starc said. “But that’s fine, it was alright, working on a few things, getting that rhythm back.”

He said that he was not bowling at his best during ODIs against India, however, he is now very close to gaining full momentum.

“That was probably my longest layoff injury-free for a long time. I was just trying to find that rhythm through the ODIs (against India). It just felt like something wasn’t quite clicking there, and it felt pretty close today, so I’m reasonably happy,” Starch said.

“I think the break was a good thing, but I just tend to be someone who continuous bowling keeps in rhythm. I’ve just been speaking to (head coach) Ronnie (Andrew McDonald) then, I think I’ve sorted it out and now it’s just getting the engine going again,” he concluded.

The 35-year-old took a four-wicket haul in the ongoing Sheffield Shield match against Victoria. He returned with the figures of 4/91 in 18 overs.

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Australia captain Mitchell Marsh guided his side to a comfortable seven-wicket win against India in a rain-affected first one-day international in Perth on Sunday.

Chasing 131 for victory in a match that was reduced to 26 overs a side, Marsh scored 46 not out as the home side cruised to an easy win to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Matt Renshaw was unbeaten on 21 alongside Marsh as Australia reached 131-3 with 29 balls remaining. Josh Philippe contributed 37, batting at number four.

“I was proud of the way our young guys came out and got the job done.”

Marsh, who was also named player of the match, won the toss and chose to field due to the inclement weather around the Western Australia city.

It paid dividends as India’s innings was hampered by rain delays, which frustrated the visitors who struggled to build any momentum.

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A quickfire 38 off 31 balls from KL Rahul helped India to recover to 136-9, with Australia set 131 to win after the total was adjusted on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern system.

Australia’s opening bowlers, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, troubled the Indian batters with a good line and movement.

Hazlewood had Rohit Sharma caught at second slip for eight before Starc claimed Virat Kohli without scoring, leaving the visitors 21-2.

India skipper Shubman Gill was caught by wicketkeeper Philippe off Nathan Ellis for 10 before the first rain delay, with India 23-3 after 8.5 overs.

Hazlewood grabbed his second victim when Shreyas Iyer gloved a ball to Philippe before another long delay with India at 45-4.

When they eventually resumed, the game was reduced to 26 overs.

Rahul smashed two huge sixes but fell on the boundary going for a third.

Nitish Reddy blasted 19 runs off the last two overs, but the reduced total was never enough.

The two teams meet again in Adelaide on Thursday before the final match at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday.

READ: Did Starc break Shoaib Akhtar’s record for world’s fastest delivery?

PERTH: India batting maestro Virat Kohli return to international cricket was cut short by Australia ace pacer Mitchell Starc, who bowled a terrific delivery to send the right-hander back for a duck in the first ODI here on Sunday.

After opting to bat first, India did not have the best of a start as returning Rohit Sharma perished for just eight from 14 balls.

As a result, the visitors were 13-1 at the end of the fourth over with Virat Kohli coming at his long-occupied No. 3 spot.

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The right-hander’s much-awaited return was highly anticipated; however, he could not open his account after playing eight deliveries and was caught at backward point.

Notably, this was Virat Kohli’s first duck on Australian soil in 65 matches played from 2011 to 2025. Overall, the right-hander has scored 3616 runs at a stellar average of 51.65 with 11 centuries and 19 fifties to his name.

Yet, India set Australia a 137-run target in a match reduced to 26 overs per side, courtesy of KL Rahul and Axar Patel’s 39-run stand, which lifted the visitors out of trouble.

Rahul made 38 from 31 balls with the aid of two sixes and two fours, whereas Patel struck three fours on his way to 31 from 38 balls.

For Australia, Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitchell Owen, and Josh Hazlewood scalped two wickets each.

Playing XIs:

India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, and Arshdeep Singh.

Australia: Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (c), Matthew Short, Josh Philippe (wk), Matt Renshaw, Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Owen, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Ellis, Matthew Kuhnemann, and Josh Hazlewood.

READ: Did Starc break Shoaib Akhtar’s record for world’s fastest delivery?

Australia ace pacer Mitchell Starc is set to join Pakistan star batter Babar Azam at the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League (BBL) 15.

The announcement came via the Sixers’ social media handle, where the team wrote about the Pacer’s return to the side.

“After 11 seasons, Mitch Starc is back in magenta. He’s expected to link up with the squad following the Ashes series,” the caption read.

Starc, who recently announced his retirement from T20I cricket, highlighted his post-Ashes commitments.

“I’ve got no cricket scheduled between the fifth Test and the IPL at this stage,” Starc said

“An opportunity to play some BBL cricket, I’ve obviously been a part of the small part of the Sixers throughout the 15 seasons, so it’s nice to return to potentially a playing role.

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Obviously, we’ve got the five Test matches to focus on, first and foremost. But post that, it’s obviously my intention to be available to play some part if called upon,” he remarked.

The left-arm pacer’s last appearance in the tournament came in the 2014-15 BBL edition. Overall, he has represented the side in 10 matches, scalping 20 wickets at an impressive average of 14.85 and an economy rate of 7.92.

Starc’s addition will bolster an already stacked Sixers side, featuring the likes of Babar Azam, Steve Smith, and Josh Hazlewood.

For context, BBL 15 is expected to be one of the most anticipated seasons in the tournament’s history, with various stars from around the globe set to take the stage at the end of this year.

Notably, Pakistani players were among the popular selections in the BBL 15 overseas draft held earlier this year.

Babar Azam was roped in by the Sydney Sixers, whereas Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Afridi were drafted by the Melbourne Renegades and the Brisbane Heat.

Haris Rauf, a regular in the BBL, was retained by Melbourne Stars, the franchise where he has become a fan favourite over the years with his pace and aggression.

The opening match of the BBL 15 will be played between the Sydney Sixers and the Perth Scorchers on December 14 in Perth.

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Veteran Australian pacer Mitchell Starc has announced his retirement from T20I cricket, effective immediately, on Tuesday.

The 35-year-old pacer made the decision to prioritise Australia’s heavy Test schedule from late next year and the ICC ODI World Cup in 2027.

He has represented Australia in 65 T20 International matches since making his debut in 2012 and was a member of the team that won the ICC T20 World Cup in 2021.

Starc has not played in this format since the 2024 World Cup held in the Caribbean.

With 79 T20I wickets, he currently ranks second among Australian bowlers, with his best performance being 4 wickets for 20 runs against the West Indies in 2022.

“Test cricket is and has always been my highest priority,” Starc said.

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“I have loved every minute of every T20 game I have played for Australia, particularly the 2021 World Cup, not just because we won but the incredible group and the fun along the way.”

Australia are preparing for a busy schedule in Test cricket that includes the following matches: a home series against Bangladesh, four Tests against New Zealand, a tour of South Africa, and five Tests against India.

They will also play a one-off match to celebrate the 150th anniversary against England at the MCG, followed by an away Ashes series in mid-2027.

In addition, Australia will defend their ODI title in the upcoming ODI World Cup, which will be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia in October and November of 2027.

“Looking ahead to an away Indian Test tour, the Ashes and an ODI World Cup in 2027, I feel this is my best way forward to remain fresh, fit and at my best for those campaigns,” Starc said.

“It also gives the bowling group time to prepare for the T20 World Cup in the matches leading into that tournament.”

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The Caribbean great Ian Bishop made an interesting comparison between Pakistan’s premier left-arm pacer, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Australia’s Mitchell Starc during the recently concluded third Test between Australia and the West Indies.

Bishop, speaking in commentary, referred to Shaheen as a “Baby Starc,” praising his knack for attacking the stumps in a style reminiscent of the Aussie spearhead, who had just ripped through the West Indies lineup with a blistering five-wicket haul in just 15 deliveries.

“It’s well known with Mitchell Starc and Shaheen Shah Afridi, at his best, watch and guard your stumps,” said Bishop, highlighting how both pacers pose a consistent threat with the new ball by targeting the base of the wickets.

The veteran broadcaster also paid homage to legends of the past, including Glenn McGrath, Curtly Ambrose, and Courtney Walsh, crediting their relentless accuracy and discipline for the havoc they caused across generations.

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“McGrath terrorised batters around the world by hitting that perfect length again and again. Ambrose and Walsh did it too, and now you see Josh Hazlewood following that method,” Ian Bishop added.

“But then there’s Shaheen Afridi, the rising star. I thought he was baby Starc at his fittest. A different style, but the same intent.”

Shaheen has built an impressive resume since making his international debut against the West Indies in 2018.

Across formats, the left-armer has already claimed 345 international wickets, including seven five-fors, and continues to be a central figure in Pakistan’s bowling attack.

His standout 2021 campaign earned him the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year award, with his match-winning spells in the T20 World Cup that year.

READ: Pakistan T20I squad departs for Bangladesh in two groups

Mitchell Starc struck early in his 100th Test match as the West Indies reached 16 for one in response to the first Australia innings total of 225 on the opening day of the day/night third Test at Sabina Park in Jamaica on Saturday.

Dismissed for a “duck” in an eventful final session as Australia slipped from 157 for three, Starc bowled West Indies debutant Kevlon Anderson off the inside-edge to raise his tally of Test wickets to 396.

Anderson and Brandon King found themselves with the task of defying the Australian bowlers operating under lights with the new pink ball after selected openers John Campbell and Mikyle Louis were injured in the field.

King and captain Roston Chase will resume on the second day with the West Indies, hoping that both Campbell and Louis will be fit to bat later in the innings as they seek a measure of consolation with the series already lost following defeats in the first two Tests in Barbados and Grenada.

Shamar Joseph again led the West Indies bowling effort with four for 33, lifting his tally to a series-leading 18 wickets.

Jayden Seales and Justin Greaves claimed three wickets each on a pitch offering considerable seam movement but still with enough in the surface to encourage the spinners, raising questions about the visitors’ decision to omit veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon in preference for an additional fast-medium bowler in Scott Boland.

Seven of the visitors’ top eight -all-rounder Beau Webster was the exception –got past 15, although none could carry on to the really big innings to put their side in a dominant position.

Turgid, almost tedious cricket defined the first two sessions, with Australia advancing to 138 for three by the dinner break.

However, a comparatively frenetic passage of play followed, triggered by the demise of Steve Smith for a top score of 48, as Australia lost their last seven wickets for 68 runs in 15 overs against the West Indies pacers.

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Smith and Cameron Green (46) put on 61 for the third wicket in the one passage of play during the daylight hours when the bat threatened to dominate the ball.

“It was almost like he was batting on a different wicket,” Green said at the end of play in an appreciation of Smith’s positive innings. “I was really struggling out there, but clearly he is a class above.”

Despite the batting collapse in the final session, Green, who is still unable to bowl for at least another three months, was happy with his team’s position after day one.

“We just wanted to give them a tricky last 45 minutes at the end and to get them one down is really crucial,” he added.

An almost T20-style attitude to batting, typified by captain Pat Cummins’ consecutive sixes off Seales, was also a reflection of Australia’s eagerness to get as many runs as they could quickly in that final session to allow the bowlers a decent shot at the West Indies’ depleted top order under the lights.

That helter-skelter tempo at the end contrasted sharply with the pedestrian opening session, made exciting only by the antics of opener Sam Konstas.

He was almost run out by Campbell and then dropped at third slip by Anderson off successive balls from Seales before being trapped leg-before for 17 off the first ball bowled by Greaves.

Anderson, who replaced Keacy Carty, is one of three changes to the West Indies team from the second Test.

That match was Kraigg Brathwaite’s 100th in Test cricket and possibly his last, as he was dropped in favour of Louis for the series finale. At the same time, left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican returned at the expense of fast-medium bowler Anderson Phillip.

Australia Playing XI

Usman Khawaja, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Josh Hazlewood, Sam Konstas

West Indies Playing XI

Brandon King, Kevlon Anderson, Mikyle Louis, John Campbell, Shai Hope, Justin Greaves, Roston Chase, Jomel Warrican, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales

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Pakistan fast bowling legend Wasim Akram on Saturday hailed Australia’s Mitchell Starc as a “modern-day great” for reaching 100 Test appearances.

Starc, who draws comparisons with fellow left-arm quick Akram, will reach the milestone later Saturday when the third Test against the West Indies begins in Jamaica.

“It is a big deal in this day and age to reach 100 Tests, congratulations to Starc,” Akram told AFP. “That shows the quality and resolve of the man.”

The 35-year-old becomes the 83rd player and 16th Australian to play 100 Tests, and only the second Australian fast bowler after Glenn McGrath.

“To play 100 Tests shows how consistent Starc has been and also shows where his priorities lie; that is to play red-ball cricket,” said Wasim Akram.

“He has also played Twenty20 and league cricket, but his career in Test cricket is way ahead, and to me he is a modern-day great.”

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Mitchell Starc stands on 395 Test wickets, so he has the tantalising prospect of taking his landmark 400th wicket during his 100th Test.

His strike rate is remarkably similar to Wasim Akram, who retired in 2002 after taking 414 wickets in 104 Tests.

Both players, said Akram, had suffered injuries to “every joint, every part of the body” during their careers.

“People often compare us, but we have played in different eras,” said Akram. “He’s got the pace, he’s got the swing and he’s bowling very intelligently to the new batter, especially with the new ball.”

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