On August 13, 2026, during the first Test in Darwin, Mitchell Starc dismissed Bangladesh opener Shadman Islam, setting a new record for the most Test wickets by a left-arm bowler. Nathan Lyon caught Islam, giving Starc his 434th Test wicket and surpassing Rangana Herath of Sri Lanka, who had previously held the record at 433 wickets.
In his 106th Test match, 36-year-old Starc achieved the milestone. The Australian pacer’s ongoing threat at the top of the order even well into his international career was highlighted by the record-breaking delivery, which came early in Bangladesh’s first innings.
The majority of Test wickets taken by left-arm bowlers
| Sr No. | Bowler name | Matches | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mitchell Starc (Australia) | 106* | 434* |
| 2 | Rangana Herath (Sri lanka) | 93 | 433 |
| 3 | Wasim Akram (Pakistan) | 104 | 414 |
| 4 | Daniel Vettori (New Zealand) | 113 | 362 |
| 5 | Chaminda Vaas | 111 | 355 |
There are two different disciplines on the list. While Starc, Akram, and Vaas relied on pace, Herath and Vettori used spin to increase their totals. Mitchell Starc is one of the group’s most successful wicket-takers, independent of type, with an average of 26.50, which falls between Herath’s 28.07 and Akram’s impressive 23.62.
What is Starc’s current position on the list of all-time Test wicket takers?
With 434 wickets, Starc and India’s Kapil Dev are tied for 11th place on the list of all-time Test wicket-takers. Kapil Dev reached the same milestone in 131 matches between 1978 and 1994, so the comparison in terms of matches played is noteworthy: Starc has reached the same milestone in 25 fewer Tests.
Starc would rank in the top 10 of all-time Test wicket-takers with six more wickets. Dale Steyn of South Africa is presently ranked tenth with 439 wickets from 93 Test matches. If Starc reaches that milestone, he will only be the tenth bowler in history to capture 440 or more Test wickets, demonstrating how uncommon long-term success at this level is.
What is the difference between Herath’s left-arm legacy and Mitchell Starc record?
With 433 wickets at an average of 28.07 from 93 Tests, Herath concluded his Test career. Over the course of more than ten years of service for Sri Lanka, he established that record as a left-arm spinner thru turn, flight, and unwavering accuracy. Mitchell Starc has reached the top of the same list in a different way, using swing and pace instead of spin to take wickets.
There is a significant distance between Mitchell Starc and the third name on the left-arm list. There is a 20-wicket gap between the current record holder and Wasim Akram of Pakistan, who retired with 414 wickets from 104 Tests at an average of 23.62. The length of Herath’s record and the importance of Mitchell Starc accomplishment in the larger context of left-arm bowling in Test cricket are highlighted by that disparity.
