Veteran Australia pace bowler Mitchell Starc surpassed Sri Lanka spin legend Rangana Herath on 13 August to become the most prolific left-arm bowler in Test cricket history, claiming his 434th wicket during the opening Test against Bangladesh at Marrara Cricket Ground in Darwin. The landmark delivery dismissed Bangladesh opener Shadman Islam, moving Starc one wicket clear of Herath's tally of 433.

The Historic Milestone

The achievement arrived in Starc's 106th Test, adding another landmark to an already celebrated career. At 434 wickets, Starc is now level with former India captain Kapil Dev on the all-time list and is closing rapidly on South Africa pace legend Dale Steyn, who sits 10th on the all-time rankings with 439 wickets. Starc needs just six more wickets to leapfrog Steyn and break into the top 10 of Test cricket's greatest wicket-takers.

Left-Arm Bowling Rankings Reshuffled

Starc's record cements his standing at the summit of the left-arm bowling charts across all formats of the game. Herath now sits second with 433 wickets, followed by Pakistan great Wasim Akram with 414. New Zealand's Daniel Vettori holds fourth place with 362 wickets, while Sri Lanka's Chaminda Vaas is fifth on 355. India's Ravindra Jadeja is sixth among left-arm bowlers with 348 Test wickets and is the only active rival in sight over the longer term.

What Starc Said Before the Series

Ahead of the Bangladesh series, the 36-year-old had played down the significance of personal milestones, insisting team objectives took precedence. 'It means I've played a bit. It is cool and very humbling to be spoken about with those guys. But that stuff doesn't mean a whole lot while you're still playing. You don't get too far ahead,' Starc said, as quoted by the ICC.

Notably, Starc had entered the Bangladesh series with 433 wickets — already level with Herath — and the prospect of overtaking both Herath and Steyn firmly within reach. In the current World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, he had taken 46 wickets in eight Tests before this series, including 31 during Australia's Ashes victory over England.

A Difficult Day for Australia with the Bat

Starc's personal triumph was set against a challenging team performance. After winning the toss and electing to bat, Australia were dismissed for just 198 in their first innings. Bangladesh's fast bowlers exploited the Darwin conditions with precision, led by Hasan Mahmud, who delivered a career-best 6 for 55. Steve Smith was Australia's top scorer with 71, but no other batter surpassed 30.

Starc's record-breaking wicket then gave Australia an early foothold in Bangladesh's reply, underlining his value as both a match-winner and a historical figure in the game. With Steyn's mark now firmly in his sights, the Darwin Test could mark the beginning of yet another chapter in his storied career.