Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc has become the most successful left-arm bowler in Test cricket history after claiming his 434th wicket against Bangladesh in Darwin.
The 36-year-old reached the landmark on Thursday during the opening Test at Marrara Stadium. Starc dismissed Bangladesh opener Shadman Islam for 20 in the ninth over of the visitors’ first innings. Nathan Lyon completed the catch at cover point after Shadman sent a leading edge into the field.
Starc entered the match level with former Sri Lanka spinner Rangana Herath on 433 Test wickets. His breakthrough moved him clear at the top among all left-arm bowlers to have played Test cricket.
Starc moves alongside Kapil Dev
The wicket took Starc to 434 scalps from 106 Tests. That also moved him level with Indian great Kapil Dev in joint 11th place among the leading wicket-takers in Test history. Kapil took 434 wickets across 131 Tests between 1978 and 1994.
Starc now needs six more wickets to move beyond South African pace legend Dale Steyn and enter the all-time top 10. Steyn finished his Test career with 439 wickets from 93 matches.
The Australian’s latest record further strengthens his standing among the finest fast bowlers of the modern era. Starc made his international debut against India in October 2010 at the age of 20. Cricket Australia says he announced himself early in his career with a four-wicket haul in only his second international appearance.
Landmark arrives on difficult day for Australia
Starc’s milestone provided Australia with one of the few highlights on a challenging opening day in Darwin.
Bangladesh dismissed Australia for 198 after captain Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bat. It was Australia’s lowest Test innings total against Bangladesh. Hasan Mahmud led the visitors’ attack with career-best figures of 6 for 55, while Steve Smith top-scored for Australia with 71.
Bangladesh then reached 96 for one by stumps. Tanzid Hasan remained unbeaten on 32 and Mominul Haque finished on 35 not out. Their unbroken 60-run partnership left Bangladesh only 102 runs behind Australia’s first-innings total.
The match is also Bangladesh’s first Test in Australia in 23 years. The two-match series continues with the second Test in Mackay from August 22.
A decorated career across formats
Starc has built an exceptional record across international cricket. In ODIs, he has taken 247 wickets from 130 matches at an average of 23.58.
He was part of Australia’s ODI World Cup-winning teams in 2015 and 2023. Starc also helped Australia win the 2021 T20 World Cup and the 2023 World Test Championship, giving him winners’ medals from all three major ICC men’s global formats.
Having already passed Herath, Starc’s next target is now clear. Another six wickets would take him to 440 and lift him past Steyn into the top 10 Test wicket-takers of all time.
