Mitchell Starc nears historic milestones in Boxing Day Test

As Australia gears up for the fourth Test against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Mitchell Starc stands on the brink of achieving two monumental milestones in his illustrious cricket career. The 34-year-old left-arm pacer, currently in outstanding form, is five wickets away from becoming only the fourth Australian bowler to reach 700 international wickets and just one scalp short of completing 100 international wickets against India.

With the series tied at 1-1, Starc’s performance will be pivotal as both teams aim for a decisive lead. In the three Tests played so far, Starc has claimed 14 wickets at an impressive average of 22.85. His standout performance came during the pink-ball Test at Adelaide Oval, where he tore through India’s batting lineup with a brilliant 6/48 spell.

Starc’s current tally stands at 695 international wickets, and surpassing the 700-mark will place him alongside Australian legends Shane Warne (1,001 wickets), Glenn McGrath (949 wickets), and Brett Lee (718 wickets). Across 284 international matches, Starc has maintained an outstanding average of 25.67, with best figures of 6/28 and an incredible 24 five-wicket hauls.

Mitchell Starc has showcased exceptional prowess across all formats of the game. In Test cricket, he has taken 372 wickets in 92 matches at an average of 27.55, including 15 five-wicket hauls, making him Australia’s fourth-highest wicket-taker in the format. In ODIs, Starc has claimed 244 wickets in 127 matches at an impressive average of 23.40, with nine five-wicket hauls, again ranking as the fourth-highest wicket-taker for Australia. In T20Is, he has been equally impactful, securing 79 wickets in 65 matches at an average of 23.81, making him Australia’s second-highest wicket-taker in the format, just behind Adam Zampa.

Starc is also on the verge of becoming only the third Australian bowler to claim 100 international wickets against India, joining Nathan Lyon (128 wickets) and Brett Lee (111 wickets). Currently, Starc has 99 wickets against India in 45 matches, with an average of 33.51 and best figures of 6/51. Achieving this milestone would make him the 14th bowler overall to reach 100 wickets against India.

Also see: India vs Australia Series Schedule

Starc’s contributions have been instrumental in securing Australia’s major victories, including two ICC Cricket World Cups (2015, 2023), the ICC T20 World Cup (2021), and the ICC World Test Championship (2023). Known for his ability to deliver under pressure, Starc’s knack for taking crucial wickets has made him one of Australia’s most reliable match-winners across formats.