Mitchell Starc Surpasses Wasim Akram in Test Wickets, Remains Humble

In a remarkable achievement, Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc has surpassed the legendary Wasim Akram for the most wickets by a left-arm pacer in Test cricket history. Despite this milestone, Starc remains humble, acknowledging Akram's status as the pinnacle of left-arm bowling. With an impressive record of 418 wickets, Starc continues to excel in pink-ball Tests, holding the record for the most wickets in this format. His performance in the recent match against England showcased his skill, as he took six wickets, helping Australia gain a strong position. Read on to discover more about Starc's journey and his reflections on this significant milestone.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 5, 2025, 02:16 IST

Starc's Historic Achievement

Brisbane [Australia], December 4: Australian cricketing icon Mitchell Starc has made headlines by overtaking Pakistan's legendary Wasim Akram for the most wickets by a left-arm fast bowler in Test cricket history. Despite this milestone, Starc humbly stated that Akram remains "the pinnacle and better" in his eyes.

In a remarkable display of skill, Starc achieved his sixth five-wicket haul in pink-ball Tests, setting a record for the most by any bowler. His total of 87 pink-ball Test wickets is unmatched, with teammates Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins trailing significantly with 43 each. At 35 years old, Starc has now taken 418 wickets in 102 Tests, surpassing Akram's previous record of 414, solidifying his status as the most successful left-arm pacer in Test history.

Starc's impressive statistics include an average of 26.42, with best figures of 7/58, 18 five-wicket hauls, and three ten-wicket hauls, making him the fourth-highest wicket-taker for Australia in Test matches.

Reflecting on his achievement, Starc remarked, "I will reflect on it later. Wasim is still the pinnacle left-armer; I think he is still better." He also expressed uncertainty about his success with the pink ball, stating, "I get asked all the time, I still don’t know. It is what it is."

Starc noted the challenges of bowling with a soft pink ball, emphasizing the difficulty of scoring runs once it loses its hardness. He concluded, "Pink ball, 9 for 320, pretty solid day’s Test cricket."

Following his record-breaking performance, Starc received congratulations from Akram, who expressed pride in Starc's achievements on social media, stating, "Super Starc! Proud of you, mate. Your incredible hard work sets you apart, and it was only a matter of time before you crossed my tally of wickets. Go well, and keep soaring to new heights in your stellar career."

In the match, England won the toss and chose to bat first. Starc's early strikes reduced England to 5/2, dismissing both Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope for ducks. Joe Root then formed a 117-run partnership with Zak Crawley, who scored 76 runs off 93 balls. Another significant partnership with Harry Brook followed, contributing to England's total.

Australia made crucial breakthroughs, including a run-out of England captain Ben Stokes, leaving England at 264/9. Starc's six-wicket haul in pink-ball Tests was completed, but strong hitting from Root and Jofra Archer helped England finish day one at 325/9 after 74 overs.