Mitchell Starc became the first left-arm bowler to claim 450 Test wickets, reaching the landmark on the third day of Australia’s second Test against South Africa in Gqeberha.
The Australian left-arm quick started the three-match series with 448 wickets and needed just two more to make history. After rain washed out much of the opening two days, Starc struck twice in the first session on day three to reach the milestone.
South Africa’s Wiaan Mulder was his 450th victim. Mulder gloved a 144kph delivery that carried to Matt Renshaw at slip. The on-field umpire initially rejected Australia’s appeal, but the visitors successfully overturned the decision on review. Starc had earlier removed Matthew Breetzke to move within one wicket of the landmark.
Starc is now the fourth Australian to take 450 Test wickets and the 10th bowler overall to reach the mark. He also set a record for the fewest deliveries needed to claim 450 wickets, getting there in 20,577 balls. That bettered the previous benchmark held by fellow Australian Glenn McGrath, who needed 23,474 deliveries.
Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan remains the leading wicket-taker in Test history with 800, followed by Australia’s late Shane Warne on 708 and England’s James Anderson on 704. India’s Anil Kumble sits fourth with 619, ahead of England’s Stuart Broad with 604.
Australia’s Nathan Lyon has taken 573 wickets, while McGrath ended his career with 563. India’s Ravichandran Ashwin claimed 537, and West Indies great Courtney Walsh finished with 519. Starc’s 450 wickets place him among the most successful bowlers in the history of Test cricket.
