Mitchell Starc added another major milestone to his remarkable Test career on Thursday, moving to the top of the all-time list for wickets by a left-arm bowler during Australia’s first Test against Bangladesh in Darwin.
The Australian fast bowler reached the landmark in the ninth over of Bangladesh’s first innings when he dismissed opener Shadman Islam. The wicket took Starc’s Test tally to 434, allowing him to move past Sri Lankan great Rangana Herath, who finished his career with 433 wickets.
Starc Becomes the Leading Left-Arm Wicket-Taker in Tests
Starc’s latest achievement puts him at the summit of a list that includes some of the greatest left-arm bowlers in Test history.
Most Test Wickets by Left-Arm Bowlers
| Rank | Player | Team | Tests | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mitchell Starc | Australia | 106* | 434 |
| 2 | Rangana Herath | Sri Lanka | 93 | 433 |
| 3 | Wasim Akram | Pakistan | 104 | 414 |
| 4 | Daniel Vettori | New Zealand | 113 | 362 |
| 5 | Chaminda Vaas | Sri Lanka | 111 | 355 |
| 6 | Ravindra Jadeja | India | 89 | 348 |
| 7 | Trent Boult | New Zealand | 78 | 317 |
| 8 | Mitchell Johnson | Australia | 73 | 313 |
| 9 | Zaheer Khan | India | 92 | 311 |
| 10 | Derek Underwood | England | 86 | 297 |
Starc’s 434th Test wicket also put him level with India legend Kapil Dev on the overall Test wicket list. However, the Australian reached the mark in just 106 Tests, 25 fewer than Kapil Dev’s 131-match career.
Starc Closing in on Test Cricket’s Top 10
The milestone against Bangladesh has also brought Starc within sight of another significant achievement.
He needs six more wickets to enter the top 10 among all Test wicket-takers. South African pace legend Dale Steyn currently occupies 10th position with 439 wickets from 93 Tests.
That means Starc could soon add another landmark to his already impressive Test career.
Bangladesh Pacers Put Australia Under Pressure
While Starc was creating history with the ball, Bangladesh’s fast bowlers produced a memorable performance of their own on the opening day.
Hasan Mahmud delivered a career-best 6 for 55, helping Bangladesh dismiss Australia for just 198 on a green-tinged Darwin pitch that offered assistance to the seamers.
Australia started aggressively after winning the toss, reaching 45 without losing a wicket. Hasan then changed the momentum by removing Jake Weatherald for 23 before dismissing Travis Head for 22 in his following over.
Taskin Ahmed and Ebadot Hossain continued to exploit the conditions. Taskin finished with 2 for 55, while Ebadot claimed 2 for 39 as Bangladesh’s pace attack maintained pressure across the opening two sessions.
Steve Smith Leads Australia’s Resistance
Australia’s innings was largely held together by Steve Smith, who scored a determined 71.
However, the Australian batting lineup struggled to counter Bangladesh’s disciplined seam bowling. The green surface provided enough movement for Hasan, Taskin and Ebadot to keep finding ways through the Australian defence.
Australia eventually folded for 198, ensuring that Bangladesh’s pace attack was at the centre of the opening day’s story.
For Starc, however, the day carried a personal significance. His dismissal of Shadman Islam not only gave Australia an early breakthrough but also established him as the most successful left-arm bowler in Test cricket history.