Australian Pacer Mitchell Starc Overtakes Pakistani Great Wasim Akram

KEY POINTS

Mitchell Starc claimed his 415th wicket, surpassing Wasim Akram’s 414.
Starc’s milestone came with a wicket of England’s Harry Broo.
Achieving the feat in his 102nd Test, Starc moved past Akram’s 104-Test career.

BRISBANE: Australian pacer Mitchell Starc made history on Thursday, overtaking Pakistan’s great Wasim Akram to become the most successful left-arm bowler in Test cricket.

Starc reached his 415th wicket on day one of the second Ashes Test at the Gabba in Brisbane, edging past Akram’s 414, a record that had stood for years.

The 35-year-old’s milestone came with the dismissal of England’s Harry Brook, marking a momentous achievement in his stellar 14-year career.

Starc, who made his Test debut at the same ground in 2009, now holds the top spot in the left-arm paceman rankings.

Super Starc! Proud of you, mate. Your incredible hard work sets you apart, and it was only a matter of time before you crossed my tally of wickets . I am pleased to give this to you! Go well, and keep soaring to new heights in your stellar career . 🙏🙏@mstarc56

— Wasim Akram (@wasimakramlive) December 4, 2025

Starc began the day with precision, removing Ben Duckett in the very first over. A well-angled delivery caught Duckett’s edge, and Marnus Labuschagne took a comfortable catch at first slip.

Starc then bowled out Ollie Pope to level the record with Akram before making history with his third wicket, Brook, who was caught in the slips to take Starc’s tally to 415.

Achieving this feat in his 102nd Test, Starc’s remarkable consistency and longevity were on full display as he moved past Akram, who reached 414 wickets in 104 Tests.

Starc’s achievement also propels him into 16th place on the all-time Test wicket-taker list, with 421 wickets (held by Shaun Pollock) and 431 wickets (Richard Hadlee) now within reach.

With his 415th wicket, Starc surpassed Akram and secured his place as the most successful left-arm seamer in the history of Test cricket.

Akram, regarded as one of the game’s finest left-arm bowlers, now sits second, with Chaminda Vaas (355), Trent Boult (317), and Mitchell Johnson (313) rounding out the top five.

Most Wickets by Left-Arm Seamers: Full List

Mitchell Starc (Australia) – 415 wickets in 102 matches, spanning from 2011 to 2025. His best bowling figures are 7/58, with an average of 26.53, an economy rate of 3.42, and a strike rate of 46.5. He has taken 17 five-wicket hauls and 3 ten-wicket matches.

Wasim Akram (Pakistan) – 414 wickets in 104 matches, from 1985 to 2002. His best bowling figures are 7/119, with an average of 23.62, an economy rate of 2.59, and a strike rate of 54.6. He has claimed 25 five-wicket hauls and 5 ten-wicket matches.

Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka) – 355 wickets in 111 matches, played between 1994 and 2009. His best bowling figures are 7/71, with an average of 29.58, an economy rate of 2.68, and a strike rate of 66. He has taken 12 five-wicket hauls and 2 ten-wicket matches.

Trent Boult (New Zealand) – 317 wickets in 78 matches, from 2011 to 2022. His best bowling figures are 7/30, with an average of 27.49, an economy rate of 3, and a strike rate of 54.9. He has taken 10 five-wicket hauls and 1 ten-wicket match.

Mitchell Johnson (Australia) – 313 wickets in 73 matches, spanning from 2007 to 2015. His best bowling figures are 8/61, with an average of 28.4, an economy rate of 3.33, and a strike rate of 51.1. He has claimed 12 five-wicket hauls and 3 ten-wicket matches.

Zaheer Khan (India) – 311 wickets in 92 matches, played from 2000 to 2014. His best bowling figures are 7/87, with an average of 32.94, an economy rate of 3.27, and a strike rate of 60.4. He has taken 11 five-wicket hauls and 1 ten-wicket match.