Mitchell Aaron Starc never dreamed of being the world’s most feared left-arm fast bowler. In fact, his cricketing journey began behind the stumps—gloves on, crouched low, idolising Adam Gilchrist rather than Wasim Akram. But fate, a gentle push from a junior coach, and a slinging arm that whistled even in the backyard would eventually redirect him from wicketkeeping pads to the long run-up that has terrorised batters worldwide.
Today, Starc stands as the most successful left-arm fast bowler in Test history, a title sealed under the Brisbane floodlights when he soared past the legendary Wasim Akram’s 414 wickets. And yet, in quintessential Starc fashion, he shrugged it off with humility. “Wasim’s still a far better bowler than I am,” he said, even as Akram himself applauded him publicly.
A Historic Spell Under the Gabba Lights
On a night where Joe Root finally conquered his Everest—his maiden century on Australian soil—it was Mitchell Starc who provided the thunder.
England had won the toss and batted, but the early overs belonged to Starc. With the very first delivery of the Ashes pink-ball Test at the Gabba, he teased Ben Duckett into a fatal prod. Moments later, Ollie Pope chopped one onto his stumps. Two overs, two wickets—Starc was crackling, zipping the pink ball under lights like few in history can.
Though Root would go on to craft a sublime, unbeaten 135, England’s innings—325/9 at stumps—was shaped and shattered by Starc, who returned figures of 6 for 71, his sixth five-wicket haul in day-night Tests. No other bowler has more than two.
It was also the spell that carried him to 418 Test wickets, clear of Akram, Vaas, Boult, and Johnson. The throne now belongs to him.
The Relentless Workhorse of Australia’s Attack
Australia entered the 2025–26 Ashes without Cummins, without Hazlewood, and unexpectedly, without Nathan Lyon. The burden was enormous. Starc didn’t just lift it—he devoured it.
Starc vs the rest of Australia this series so far
Starc: 43.5 overs | 16 wickets | Avg 11.50 | SR 16.4 | ER 4.19
Rest of Australia: 97.4 overs | 12 wickets | Avg 37.91 | SR 48.8 | ER 4.65
He has been the engine, the spearhead, the spark—everything Australia has needed.
Starc himself summed it up simply: “I’m pretty tired.”
But the numbers reveal more—this is greatness in motion.
Root’s Milestone, Starc’s Mastery
Much of the day’s narrative revolved around Joe Root finally bringing up a Test hundred in Australia after 30 long innings. It was a landmark Root had chased for over a decade.
But Root’s thunder wasn’t stolen by Starc—it was complemented. This was a day where two modern giants rose together: Root through grit, Starc through fire.
England’s innings unfolded in arcs defined by Starc:
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Two early blows (Duckett, Pope)
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Breaking a rebuilding stand (Brook caught in the cordon)
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Three tail-end scalps (Jacks, Atkinson, Carse)
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Pressure every time the game drifted
If Root gave England hope, Starc denied them dominance.
A Career Forged by Reinvention
Starc’s pathway is one of cricket’s favourite stories:
the wicketkeeper who became the destroyer of worlds.
A teenage keeper who bowled a bit on the side became a 150 km/h missile-launcher with an inswinger from the heavens. Lanky, raw, and unpolished, he was moulded into:
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A World Cup demon
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A pink-ball specialist
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A Test stalwart
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A left-arm legend
Not many players reinvent themselves successfully at the age of 14. Even fewer reinvent cricket on the way.
Pink Ball King
Starc’s record in day-night Tests borders on fantasy:
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87 wickets
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Average 16.72
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A record six five-fors
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Unmatched control under lights
The pink ball bends to his will—swerving, dipping, seaming late—turning evening sessions into carnage.
Humility of a Champion
After surpassing Wasim Akram, when asked whether he is now the “GOAT of left-arm pace,” Starc laughed:
“I won’t be calling myself that.”
“Wasim is still the pinnacle.”
But milestones speak louder than modesty:
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Most wickets by a left-arm fast bowler
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Four Ashes series-defining spells
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A World Cup hero
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The most feared pink-ball bowler ever
And above all—a bowler who continually steps up when Australia needs saving.
The Legacy of Mitchell Aaron Starc
He was never supposed to be this. He wasn’t pencilled in as Australia’s next great quick. He wasn’t moulded in the classic fast-bowler factory. He wasn’t even supposed to bowl.
But Starc wrote his story anyway.
From backyard keeper to world’s finest left-arm pacer.
From raw speedster to statistical titan.
From criticism early in his career to complete command today.
Mitchell Aaron Starc has risen, evolved, dominated—and in doing so, earned a place among the immortals of cricket.
A genuine great.
A relentless competitor.
A once-in-a-generation left-arm force.
One of the true GOATs of fast bowling. What a player.
