During a challenging first Test match against Bangladesh in Darwin, Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc achieved a significant personal milestone. On Friday, he officially surpassed the legendary Indian all-rounder Kapil Dev in the rankings of all-time Test wicket-takers. This achievement provided a glimmer of positivity for the Australian team amidst what has proven to be a difficult encounter against the visiting Bangladeshi side.
Starc had initially drawn level with Kapil Dev’s impressive tally of 434 Test wickets on Thursday, having dismissed Bangladesh’s opening batsman, Shadman Islam. He then proceeded to surpass this record on the second day of the Test by removing wicketkeeper-batsman Litton Das for a duck. This pivotal wicket elevated Starc’s career total to 435 wickets, securing him the 11th position among the highest wicket-takers in the history of Test cricket. This remarkable feat further solidified Starc’s standing as the second-most successful Australian pace bowler in Test history, with only the iconic Glenn McGrath, who concluded his career with 563 wickets, ahead of him.
The Australian speedster is now tantalizingly close to breaking into the top 10 of this esteemed list. Currently, the 10th position is held by the formidable South African bowler Dale Steyn, who boasts 439 wickets. Starc requires just five more wickets to equal Steyn’s record, indicating that this significant milestone could be achieved in the very near future. Furthermore, Starc had already etched his name in the record books on the opening day of the Darwin Test by becoming the most prolific left-arm bowler in the history of Test cricket.
However, these personal accolades for Starc have unfolded against a backdrop of struggle for the Australian team. They were bowled out for a modest 198 runs on Day 1 and have subsequently found it challenging to contain Bangladesh’s assertive batting response. The visitors continued their impressive form on Friday, with Tanzid Hasan Tamim delivering a historic maiden Test century. By the close of the second day, Bangladesh had firmly established their dominance at the Marrara Cricket Ground.
Resuming their first innings after Australia’s early collapse, Bangladesh capitalised on the favourable batting conditions. Tanzid and Mominul Haque forged a robust 102-run partnership for the second wicket before Mominul was eventually dismissed by Josh Hazlewood for 49 runs. Tanzid then proceeded to reach his maiden Test hundred, becoming the first Bangladeshi batsman to score a Test century on Australian soil. The 25-year-old ultimately scored 101 runs off 188 balls, an innings that included eight fours and a six, before his wicket was claimed by Nathan Lyon.
Even after Tanzid’s departure, Bangladesh continued to extend their lead, reaching a commanding total of 348/6 at the end of 106 overs of play. Mehidy Hasan Miraz remained unbeaten on 29 runs, while Hasan Mahmud was not out on 13 runs at stumps. Consequently, Bangladesh concluded Day 2 with a substantial 150-run lead over Australia, leaving the host nation with a formidable task ahead to regain control and remain competitive in the Test match.
