![Mitchell Starc against South Africa [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1793117370276_Mitchell_Starc.jpg?type=hq)
Mitchell Starc against South Africa [Source: AFP]
Australian speed demon Mitchell Starc fought back against South Africa with a sensational six-wicket haul on the opening day of their series-deciding third Test. Bowling more than 16 overs, the speedster picked up six wickets at an expense of just 72 runs to record his 20th five-wicket haul in Test cricket.
Through the course of his latest spell, Starc entered an elite bowling list, joining the likes of Wasim Akram and Rangana Herath.
Mitchell Starc inches closer to Wasim Akram in elite table
Mitchell Starc, playing the 110th Test of his career, picked up his 20th five-wicket haul by scything through the South African batting line-up on Day 1 at the Newlands Cricket Ground on Tuesday, October 27.
Starc has now become only the fourth left-arm bowler in Test history, and only the second left-arm fast bowler to be precise, to complete 20 five-wicket hauls in the format. In terms of fast bowlers alone, the legendary Australian paceman is only behind Pakistan’s all-time great Wasim Akram in the celebrated list.
Here is a look at six left-arm bowlers who have picked up the highest number of five-wicket hauls in Test cricket history so far.
Most 5-Wicket Hauls by Left Arm Bowlers in Tests:
- 34 - Rangana Herath (Sri Lanka)
- 25 - Wasim Akram (Pakistan)
- 20 - Daniel Vettori (New Zealand/ICC), Mitchell Starc (Australia)*
- 19 - Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh), Taijul Islam (Bangladesh)
Additionally, Starc’s figures of 6-72 also surpassed Shane Warne’s 6-161 (2002) to record the best bowling figures in Tests by any Australian bowler in Cape Town.
Starc justifies number one Test ranking
Mitchell Starc had picked up just six wickets across the first two Tests of Australia’s ongoing away series against South Africa. The legendary speedster added six more to his tally in the space of a single innings against the hosts on Day 1 of the decider at Cape Town.
Notably, Starc has now picked up at least one five-wicket haul in each of his last four Test series for Australia, including two in a single home Ashes series against England earlier this year.
With 70 wickets to his name in just his last 24 Test innings, the ageing Australian warhorse continues to prove why he is among the best in the business in the modern-day game.
Moreover, Starc also justified his number one ICC ranking as a Test bowler through his latest spell against South Africa. The six-wicket haul he snared also helped Australia fold up the Proteas for just 328, even though they had reached 158-0 at one stage of the day.
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