Mitchell Starc has rewritten the record books in Brisbane, moving past Pakistan legend Wasim Akram to become the most successful left‑arm fast bowler in Test history. The Australian spearhead reached the landmark during the second Ashes Test at the Gabba, under lights in a pink‑ball contest that has long been his favourite stage.
Starc goes past Akram
Starc began the match needing three wickets to overhaul Akram’s haul of 414 Test dismissals, a mark that had stood as the benchmark for left‑arm pacers for more than two decades. By the time he removed Harry Brook in the afternoon session, he had pushed his tally to 415 wickets in just his 102nd Test, eclipsing Akram’s 414 from 104 matches. The achievement places Starc at the top of an elite list that also features Chaminda Vaas, Trent Boult, Mitchell Johnson and Zaheer Khan among the most prolific left‑arm seamers in the format.
Landmark spell at the Gabba
England captain Ben Stokes had chosen to bat first in Brisbane, but Starc stunned the visitors almost immediately with another trademark first‑over strike, dismissing Ben Duckett for a golden duck. He then knocked over Ollie Pope in his next over to draw level with Akram, before claiming Brook caught in the slips to seize the record outright and leave England’s top order in disarray. Despite Starc’s early burst, Zak Crawley and Joe Root began a fightback for England, guiding the score past three figures and steadying the innings through the middle session of Day 1.
Pink-ball king on home turf
That the milestone arrived in a day‑night Test felt fitting, given Starc’s dominance with the pink ball over the past decade. He now has more than 80 wickets in day‑night Tests at an extraordinary average a touch above 17, making him the standout bowler in the format by some distance. Australia’s wider day‑night record underlines his impact: the hosts have won 13 of their 14 pink‑ball Tests, while England have managed just two victories in seven such matches.
Form of a veteran spearhead
Starc’s record comes in a season where he is arguably bowling as well as at any point in his career, even at 35. He arrived in Brisbane on the back of a Player‑of‑the‑Match performance in the series opener in Perth, where a 10‑wicket match haul helped flip a game that England had dominated for long stretches. Across the calendar year, he has already neared his personal best for Test wickets in a 12‑month period, reinforcing his status as Australia’s undisputed strike bowler in the post‑Mitchell Johnson era.
Legacy among left-arm greats
Surpassing Akram’s tally does not end the debate over who is the greatest left‑arm quick, but it cements Starc’s place alongside the Pakistani great in the format’s history. Akram built his legend with relentless skill and control over 17 years, while Starc has forged his reputation through raw pace, steep bounce and a devastating swinging full ball that has terrorised top orders worldwide. With the Ashes series still in its early stages and Australia heavily reliant on his new‑ball bursts, Starc now has the chance to push the record still further and set a target that could stand for a generation.
