AUS v WI: Mitchell Starc becomes fifth Australian to reach 350 Test wickets

In a gripping Day and Night Test match against West Indies at Brisbane’s Gabba Stadium, Australia’s pace spearhead Mitchell Starc etched his name in history, reaching the milestone of 350 Test wickets. The left-arm quick dismissed Alick Athanze in the 22nd over, becoming the fifth Australian to achieve this feat.

Starc entered the clash just two wickets shy of the landmark. In the 20th over, he sent Tagernarine Chanderpaul packing at 21, and later in the 26th over, dismantled Justin Greaves for a mere six, dismantling the West Indies batting lineup.

The 32-year-old speedster is the third left-arm pacer to join the elite 350-wicket club, trailing only the legendary Wasim Akram (414) and Sri Lankan icon Chaminda Vaas (355). Meanwhile, his countrymen Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Nathan Lyon, and Dennis Lillee stand ahead in this prestigious list.

Starc boasts 27 wickets against West Indies in seven Test matches. He has secured an impressive 14 five-wicket hauls and two 10-wicket match hauls in 87 Tests so far, cementing his status as one of Australia’s premier pacers.

“He’s not underrated, but he probably doesn’t get the plaudits of some of the other fast bowlers around the world,” Mark Waugh said of Starc on Fox Cricket. “He’s right up there. He’s just a genuine wicket taker, Mitchell Starc, in all formats.”

Meanwhile, Australia won the toss and opted to bowl in the D/N Test. Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins provided the early breakthroughs before Starc came in and wreaked havoc, taking three wickets to leave West Indies at 64/5 in the first session.

With a resounding 10-wicket victory in the first Test in Adelaide, Australia will eye for a clean sweep. Notably, they have a staggering record in D/N Tests, having won all 11 they have played so far.