Mitchell Starc Achieves Milestone as Australia Struggles in Darwin Test

In a historic day for cricket, Mitchell Starc surpassed Rangana Herath to become the most successful left-handed bowler in Test history during the Darwin Test. However, Australia faced a disappointing collapse, scoring just 198 runs against Bangladesh, marking their lowest score ever against the team. Bangladesh's Hasan Mahmud achieved record bowling figures, while Taskin Ahmed celebrated reaching 300 international wickets. This match highlights the challenges faced by Australia and the rising prowess of Bangladesh's pace attack.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 13, 2026, 15:20 IST

Starc's Historic Achievement

On the opening day of the Darwin Test, Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc made history by surpassing Sri Lankan spinner Rangana Herath, becoming the most successful left-handed bowler in Test cricket. Starc reached this remarkable milestone by claiming the wicket of Shadnan Islam, marking his 434th Test wicket and surpassing Herath's previous record of 433.

Australia's Disappointing Innings

In the match, Australia faced a significant setback, being dismissed for a mere 198 runs in their first innings after opting to bat first. The team managed a 45-run partnership for the opening wicket between Travis Head (22) and Jake Weatherald (23), but struggled to build momentum. Steve Smith's effort of 71 runs off 109 balls, which included seven fours and a six, was not enough to prevent Australia from recording their lowest-ever score against Bangladesh, falling short of the previous low of 217 runs at Mirpur in 2017.

Bangladesh's Bowling Dominance

Bangladesh's pace attack shone brightly, with Hasan Mahmud achieving the best bowling figures by a Bangladeshi bowler against Australia. Taskin Ahmed also celebrated a milestone by reaching 300 international wickets. Hasan's performance surpassed Mohammad Rafique's previous record of 5/62 against Australia in 2006, contributing to Australia's lowest Test score against Bangladesh since 2017. In his 15 Test matches, Hasan has claimed three five-wicket hauls, making him the second-most successful Bangladeshi pacer in this regard, following Shahadat Hossain.

Taskin Ahmed Reaches 300 Wickets

Taskin Ahmed became the sixth Bangladeshi bowler to achieve 300 international wickets, finishing with figures of 2/55. He now has a total of 300 wickets across 204 matches, including 13 four-wicket hauls and three five-wicket hauls, with an average exceeding 28. He joins the ranks of Shakib al Hasan, Mashrafe Mortaza, Mustafizur Rahman, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, and Taijul Islam in Bangladesh's all-time bowling statistics.