SA vs AUS: Mitchell Starc joins elite club with 450 Test wickets
New Delhi: Australian pacer completed another major milestone in his illustrious career during the against South Africa at St George’s Park in Gqeberha on Tuesday, October 20. Starc became the second Australian pacer to complete 450 wickets in the longest format.
He achieved the milestone during the first innings of the second Test when he dismissed Wiaan Mulder early on Day 3. Starc bowled a sharp bouncer that caught Mulder off guard, who got very little time to react as the ball brushed his glove and carried through to wicketkeeper Alex Carey behind the stumps.
The on-field umpire did not hear the nick, but Australia successfully overturned the decision on review. With this wicket, Starc completed his 450th scalp in Test cricket, becoming only the second Australian pacer, along with Glenn McGrath and the fourth Aussie overall to achieve the milestone.
He also became the first left-arm bowler to complete 450 wickets in Test cricket history. Starc is also the quickest Australian pacer to reach 450 Test wickets (20,577), surpassing Glenn McGrath’s tally of 23,474 deliveries.
Overall, the 36-year-old is the 10th bowler to achieve the feat after Muttiah Muralitharan (800 wickets), Shane Warne (708), James Anderson (704), Anil Kumble (619), Stuart Broad (604), Nathan Lyon (573), Glenn McGrath (563), Ravichandran Ashwin (537), and Courtney Walsh (519).
Most Test wickets for Australia
708 – Shane Warne
573 – Nathan Lyon
563 – Glenn McGrath
450* – Mitchell Starc
355 – Dennis Lillee
Fewest matches to 450 Test wickets
80 – M Muralitharan
89 – R Ashwin
93 – Anil Kumble
100 – Glenn McGrath
101 – Shane Warne
109 – Mitchell Starc*
Bavuma, Jansen rescue South Africa in 2nd Test
After being asked to bat first in the second Test, the hosts got off to a poor start as Scott Boland bowled brilliantly to take 4 wickets. He dismissed Aiden Markram (11) and David Bedingham (0) off consecutive deliveries on the rain-hit opening day.
He then took two wickets on the second day, removing Marques Ackerman (6) and Ryan Rickelton (31), while Starc also chipped in with one as South Africa reached 97/5 at the end of Day 2. Starc picked up his second wicket on Day 3 and dismissed Wiaan Mulder for 13.
But after that, skipper Temba Bavuma and Marco Jansen forged an unbeaten 106-run partnership for the sixth wicket, as the hosts reached 216/6 at lunch on Day 3. The Aussies are already 1-0 up in the series and are aiming to clinch the series in Gqeberha, where they have not won a Test since 1997.