Mitchell Starc Destroys Bangladesh Top Order, Surpasses Dale Steyn in Historic Spell
MACKAY, Australia – Australian pace spearhead Mitchell Starc produced a masterclass in fast bowling on Saturday, tearing through the Bangladesh top order in a blistering opening session at the Great Barrier Reef Arena. Starc’s five-wicket haul not only crippled the visitors’ batting lineup but also saw him leapfrog South African legend Dale Steyn on the all-time list of Test wicket-takers.
After Australian captain Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bowl—citing early moisture in the pitch—Starc wasted no time justifying the decision. With the very first delivery of the match, Starc removed Shadman Islam, who was caught at gully. The dismissal marked the fourth time in his career that the left-arm quick has struck with the opening ball of a Test match.
A One-Man Demolition Job
Starc’s momentum proved unstoppable throughout the morning. By his third over, he had dismissed Tanzid Hasan and trapped Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto lbw. He then claimed his fourth victim, Mominul Haque, following a sharp catch by Nathan Green.
The left-armer completed his stellar five-wicket haul by dismissing Litton Das lbw, reducing Bangladesh to a precarious 29 for five. Pat Cummins joined the fray shortly after, bowling Mushfiqur Rahim to leave the visitors reeling at 35 for six as the players headed to lunch. Starc finished the opening session with remarkable figures of 5-11 from nine overs.
Speaking to his wife, former Australian captain Alyssa Healy, during the mid-session break, a focused Starc attributed his aggression to the team’s current mission. “Obviously a little bit of anger. It’s worked well so far; hopefully, we can keep it up,” he said.
Climbing the All-Time Rankings
With this performance, Starc moved to 440 Test wickets, officially eclipsing Dale Steyn’s career tally of 439. The milestone solidifies Starc’s status as one of the most prolific fast bowlers in the history of the sport. He now sits fifth on the all-time list of Test wickets among fast bowlers, trailing only England’s James Anderson (704) and Stuart Broad (604), as well as Australian icon Glenn McGrath (563) and West Indies legend Courtney Walsh (519).
High Stakes in Mackay
This performance is critical for Australia, who entered the match under significant pressure after being stunned by Bangladesh in the opening Test in Darwin. That surprise defeat handed the tourists a 1-0 lead in the two-match series, leaving the Australian camp eager to bounce back.
The clash in Mackay represents the start of a grueling 12-month schedule for the Australian side, which includes 20 upcoming Tests featuring high-profile tours of India, South Africa, and England. While the road ahead is long, Starc’s Mitchell Starc-led demolition of the Bangladesh top order has provided his team with the perfect platform to level the series and regain their momentum.
