Mitchell Starc once again proved why he is the undisputed king of pink-ball cricket, producing his sixth five-wicket haul in day-night Tests — a record no other bowler has even come close to. The next best is two, underlining Starc’s unmatched dominance under lights.
The milestone came in dramatic fashion with the dismissal of Gus Atkinson, a wicket that encapsulated the chaos and brilliance of pink-ball cricket at the Gabba. Atkinson attempted a flick but got a top edge that flew behind the keeper. What followed was pure theatre: both Alex Carey and Marnus Labuschagne chased the swirling ball, diving full-stretch in unison. Carey held on inches above the turf, completing what many are calling the catch of the year.
As Carey and Labuschagne crashed to the ground in celebration, Starc lifted the ball to the Gabba crowd, acknowledging his historic achievement. The wicket — Atkinson c Carey b Starc for 4 — sealed yet another five-fer for the left-arm quick, who continues to redefine what peak pink-ball bowling looks like.
With this performance, Starc has further cemented his reputation as the most lethal bowler under lights, consistently delivering breakthroughs when Australia need them most.
