Mitchell Starc completes in 300th wickets in test in perfect time as Australia crushes South Africa to win the first test match.
Mitchell Starc has become the seventh Australian bowler to take 300 test wickets. Starc finished with 2-26 from 11 hostile overs, troubling batsmen with firey pace and bounce.
Travis Head’s 92 (from 96 balls) may be deemed the game-changer in a more thoughtful analysis. But the limelight was taken by Starc who completed the historic day as the main act after completing his 300th Test dismissal in classic style by rattling the timbers for the 46th time in his Test career.
This is a phenomenal achivement for the 6′ 7″ tall left arm pacer who has been frontline commander of pace attack for last half decade for the Australian bowling attack. The way Starc completed his 300th was remarkable so typical of what he has done throughout the years.
A perfect pitched up delivery full of pace just beat through the defence of Rassie Van der Dussen who couldn’t do much. The ball just went through the gates and bails went flying in the air as the 33 years old pacer celebrated the marvellous achivement.
Mitchell Starc completed his 300th wicket trip on the field where his Test career began 11 years ago, elevating himself into the hall of fame of legendary Australian fast bowlers.
When Starc dismissed Rassie van der Dussen in South Africa’s second innings in the first NRMA Insurance Test at the Gabba, he became only the seventh Australian paceman to reach the milestone.
With a signature delivery that seamed back into the right-hander, the left-armer clean bowled van der Russen, sending teammates into hugs and handshakes as the Proteas fell to 2-3.
Mitchell Starc’s 300 Test wickets, by the numbers ⭐ #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/f6xYmF3R0r
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 18, 2022
It emphasises how impressive his record is that he has joined Glenn McGrath (561 Test wickets), Dennis Lillee (355), Mitchell Johnson (313) and Brett Lee as the only Australian quicks to reach the 300-wicket threshold. The two Australians to reach the mark are spinners Nathan Lyon (450) and Shane Warne (708).
Shaun Pollock, who was watching from the Fox Cricket commentary box, and Makhaya Ntini, two Proteas speed aces, took the same amount of Tests (74) to get there as Starc did.
It is an impressive accomplishment for a guy who initially intended to be a wicketkeeper and only began really practising fast bowling in his mid-teens.
Australia’s top Test wicket-takers
Shane Warne: 708 wickets
Glenn McGrath: 563
Nathan Lyon: 450*
Dennis Lillee: 355
Mitchell Johnson: 313
Brett Lee: 310
Mitchell Starc: 300*
During the Proteas’ first innings, Starc led the home team’s attack, taking 3-41 to go one wicket closer to the century. Travis Head then turned down a good opportunity off Kagiso Rabada at short leg after a few juggling tries that would have taken him there on the first day.
Although he got a little luck in breaking the first Test partnership when skipper Dean Elgar was caught down the leg-side, he didn’t need it this time as he ended South Africa’s largest partnership of the game.
Temba Bavuma and Kyle Verryenne’s 98-run partnership came to an end when Starc angled a fiery delivery that Bavuma whacked back onto his stumps. Steve Smith then successfully collected Keshav Maharaj at second slip.