AUS vs BAN: Mitchell Starc surpasses Rangana Herath to make THIS Test record his own
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Mitchell Starc returns to Test cricket after the Ashes heroics.
Australia are hosting Bangladesh for a two-match Test series. The first match of the series began on August 13 and is being played at the Marrara Cricket Ground in Darwin. The second Test is scheduled to begin on August 22.
Australia entered this contest on the back of a brilliant Ashes series earlier this year. The Kangaroos defeated England by a significant margin of 4-1. Mitchell Starc was the Player of the Series for his masterclass in bowling.
The left-arm pacer picked 31 wickets in the Ashes. He featured in all the matches of the series and claimed the most wickets with an average of 19.94, including two five-wicket hauls.
After the Ashes, he only played a few matches in the Indian Premier League 2026 for Delhi Capitals. In six matches, he took 11 wickets at a strike rate of 12 and an average of 20.
Continuing this form in the series against Bangladesh, Starc helped Australia with the first breakthrough in the 1st innings. With that wicket, he has etched his name in the record books for a phenomenal achievement.
Starc’s left-arm bowling rewrites Test history
Starc is currently one of the best bowlers in the world. Moreover, he is arguably the best left-arm pacer in the cricketing world right now. The 36-year-old has rewritten the record books with his exceptional achievement in Test cricket.
Australian pacer Mitchell Starc is now the leading left-arm wicket-taker in Test cricket history, with 434* wickets to his name. Starc picked his 434th wicket during the 1st Test against Bangladesh on August 13 with the dismissal of Shadman Islam.
With this wicket, he surpassed Rangana Herath’s record of 433 wickets. This milestone came in Starc’s 106th Test match, adding another significant accomplishment to his illustrious career.
Starc retired from T20Is in 2025 to focus on Test cricket and the 2027 ODI World Cup. However, he has been deliberately kept out of ODIs because the WTC 2025-27 is a priority for the Australian board. He is playing select ODI series, the most recent of which was against India in October 2025.
Australia are currently the top-ranked team in the WTC points table with 7 wins in 8 Tests. The Kangaroos are scheduled to play 3 Tests against the Defending Test champions, South Africa, later this year, and 5 against India in 2027.
Australia were bowled out for just 198 runs in the first innings of the 1st Test against Bangladesh. They had chosen to bat first, but the heroics from Hasan Mahmud restricted the hosts to a rather underwhelming score. Steve Smith was the highest run-scorer in the first innings for Australia, making 71 runs.
Who is the leading left-arm wicket-taker in Test cricket history?
Starc is now the leading left-arm wicket-taker in Test cricket history, with 434* wickets to his name.
How many wickets does Mitchell Starc have in Test Cricket?
Mitchell Starc has taken 434* wickets in Test Cricket.
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Cricket runs in the blood of Indians — and that’s something she truly believes in. A law student with a lifelong connection to the game, she has followed cricket passionately since his school days. Like countless young fans, she first experienced the sport on the field before deepening his understanding through constant watching, reading, and conversations around the game. Writing became a natural extension of that passion, bringing a “Pavilion Perspective” to his work — capturing how fans experience matches through their own lens.