Australian pace spearhead Mitchell Starc etched his name into cricketing history on Thursday, overtaking Pakistan’s iconic Wasim Akram to become the highest wicket-taker among left-arm fast bowlers in Test cricket.
Starc claimed his 415th Test wicket by dismissing England’s Harry Brook on day one of the day-night second Ashes Test at the Gabba, marking a historic milestone. The 35-year-old achieved the feat in his 102nd Test, slightly faster than Wasim Akram, who took 414 wickets in 104 matches and is widely considered one of the greatest left-arm bowlers ever.
Starc’s ascent has been boosted by his outstanding performance in the opening Ashes Test, where he secured a career-best 7-58 in the first innings at Perth.
With this achievement, Starc now stands 16th on the all-time Test wicket-takers list. He is expected to surpass India’s Harbhajan Singh (417) and South Africa’s Shaun Pollock (421) during the ongoing pink-ball Test. His next major target will be New Zealand great Sir Richard Hadlee, who retired with 431 Test wickets.
Starc’s record-breaking moment solidifies his status as one of modern cricket’s most impactful fast bowlers, combining pace, swing, and consistent match-winning performances across formats.
