Mitchell Starc Joins Elite Club: Bowlers With First-Ball Wicket In 1st Test At A Venue

Mitchell Starc Joins Exclusive Club with 1st ball wicket in Mackay [Source: AFP]

The Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay became Australia's 12th Test venue as it hosted its first Test between Australia and Bangladesh in August 2026. However, the venue’s Test debut began in dramatic fashion, with Australia pacer Mitchell Starc striking with the very first delivery. 

After Australia won the toss and elected to bowl first, Starc rocked Bangladesh with an early setback, dismissing Shadman Islam for a duck in the first ball of the match. The fast bowler finished his spell with clinical figures of 6/12, creating multiple records in the process. 

Mitchell Starc's first-ball wicket places him in a rare club

The dismissal of Bangladesh opener Shadman Islam added a significant context to the game. As soon as Starc got rid of the southpaw, the Great Barrier Reef Arena was placed among a select group of venues where the opening ball of a men’s Test resulted in a wicket. 

On that note, here's a look at the players who grabbed a wicket on the venue's first-ever ball in men's Tests.

1. Kapil Dev - Gandhi Stadium, Jalandhar, 1983 

Former Indian captain Kapil Dev achieved the feat first in 1983. In the first Test held at the Gandhi Stadium in Jalandhar, Kapil took the new ball and immediately made an impact, dismissing Pakistan opener Mohsin Khan with the very first delivery of the Test. 

It was a remarkable way for a new Test venue to announce itself, with one of India's greatest fast bowlers producing an instant breakthrough. The Test eventually ended in a draw, but Kapil Dev registered his name in the record books. 

And the fact that the rare feat was achieved in the iconic India-Pakistan rivalry made it even more legendary and significant for Kapil Dev. 

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2. Imran Khan - Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur, 1987

In 1987, India hosted Pakistan in a Test series and one of the games was held at the newly inaugurated Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. Pakistan captain and legendary fast bowler Imran Khan produced a sensational opening delivery in that game.

His first ball at the venue resulted in the dismissal of none other than Sunil Gavaskar, who was one of the most accomplished opening batters in Test history, but Imran's pace and movement immediately created trouble. 

Again, the match ultimately ended in a draw, but the first-ball dismissal from Iram Khan remains an incredible piece of Test trivia. 

3. Suranga Lakmal - Pallekele International Stadium, 2010

Sri Lankan bowler Suranga Lakmal also achieved a similar feat in 2010. Pallekele became Sri Lanka's newest Test venue, and it hosted the Test between Sri Lanka and West Indies.

On the opening ball, Lakmal dismissed Windies’ powerhouse, Chris Gayle. The wicket was particularly notable because Gayle was already one of the most destructive batters in world cricket. 

Getting him out with the opening delivery gave Pallekele a dream start to its Test journey. Lakmal's name consequently became permanently linked with the first wicket in the venue's Test history. 

4. Mitchell Starc - Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay, 2026

16 years later, Mitchell Starc recreated this feat. The second Test of the 2026 Test series between Bangladesh and Australia was held at the new venue of Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay. 

Starc opened the bowling and history repeated itself as he dismissed Shadman Islam with the very first delivery. For Mackay, it was an unforgettable introduction to Test cricket. 

Instead of a quiet beginning, the first ball produced an immediate wicket and added the venue to a select group of grounds with a remarkable opening-ball record. 

It was an especially significant moment for Mitchell Starc, who was already closing in on another major career milestone, having moved beyond Kapil Dev's 434 Test wickets shortly before the Mackay Test.

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