Mitchell Starc walked into the second Ashes Test at The Gabba already regarded as one of Australia’s finest modern quicks. By the end of Day 1, he had stepped into a different realm altogether. With his sixth wicket of the innings — a spell that combined swing, angle, intimidation, and sheer relentlessness — Starc moved past Wasim Akram to become the most successful left-arm fast bowler in the history of Test cricket. It wasn’t just a record; it was a seismic moment in the sport, the kind that forces everyone to recalibrate their sense of where a player sits in the fast-bowling pantheon.
The landmark came in classic Starc fashion: a wicket taken with pace and late movement under the lights, the kind of delivery that has haunted batters for more than a decade. Earlier in the innings, he had struck in his very first over — a trademark new-ball strike that dismissed Ben Duckett for a first-ball duck. That early breakthrough set the tone for England’s slide, and as the pink ball continued to talk, Starc kept returning to shatter stumps, find edges, and force mistakes.
By the time he collected wicket number 415 — the one that took him past Wasim Akram — the entire stadium understood the magnitude of what had just unfolded. Akram had been the gold standard for left-arm fast bowling for more than two decades. His 414 wickets came through mastery of swing, reverse swing, and tactical nous. For many, he was untouchable in his category. Starc surpassing him is a testament to longevity, durability, and a skill set that has adapted across formats and eras.
What stands out about Starc’s achievement is how he has reached this milestone: not through years of low-key accumulation, but through decisive spells that regularly changed matches. His Ashes spells alone have become part of modern cricket folklore — brutal first-over strikes, yorkers at 150 kph, and unstoppable late swing with the new ball on Australian pitches. Across continents, his ability to produce match-shaping deliveries has remained constant.
This particular innings at The Gabba only amplified that narrative. England’s top order, already under pressure after a poor first Test, was blown open before they could settle. Starc removed Duckett, then Pope, and later returned to dismantle the middle order. Even as Joe Root carried England with a sublime unbeaten century, Starc ensured the visitors were never allowed any real breathing room. His six-wicket haul was a vintage display — destructive yet controlled, aggressive yet precise.
Beyond the numbers, this moment crystallises Starc’s legacy. He has often been compared to contemporaries like Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, sometimes overshadowed by the steadiness or consistency of their styles. But milestones like this remind the cricketing world that Starc has always been Australia’s great weapon of chaos — the bowler who bends matches in a single spell, the bowler who brings fear as much as skill, the bowler who can turn calm sessions into carnage.
12BET Shortlisted for Sportsbook Operator of the Year at SBC Awards 2025