81 wickets, 5 fifers: Starc's tremendous record in D/N Tests
Australia and England are gearing up for the second Test of the ongoing Ashes series, which will be played at The Gabba in Brisbane from December 4. This match will be a day-night fixture, played with a pink ball. Eyes will be on star pacer Mitchell Starc, who took 10 wickets in the series opener. As Starc has been sensational in Day-Night Tests, let's decode his numbers.
Only bowler with 50-plus scalps in Day-Night Tests
With his sensational bowling, Starc is currently the only bowler with 50-plus scalps in Day-Night Tests. He has scalped 81 wickets from only 14 matches at a tremendous average of 17.08. His teammates Nathan Lyon (43), Pat Cummins (43), and Josh Hazlewood (40) follow Starc on this tally. As per ESPNcricinfo, no other bowler has taken more than 25 wickets in Day/Night Tests.
Five fifers in Day-Night Tests
Starc is the only bowler to have claimed more than two fifers in Day-Night Tests (5). His five-wicket hauls have come against Pakistan, New Zealand, England, India, West Indies. Starc's last outing with the pink ball saw him claim 6/9 versus WI in the fourth innings of the Kingston Test earlier this year. This was his then career-best figures in Test cricket before he claimed 7/58 in the Ashes opener.
Fastest fifer in Test cricket
The aforementioned Kingston Test saw Starc become the fastest bowler to take a five-wicket haul in Test cricket, claiming the milestone within just 15 balls. He broke the previous record jointly held by Ernie Toshack, Stuart Broad, and Scott Boland by four deliveries. Notably, Starc dismissed three batters in the opening over of the innings en route to his feat.
Here are his Test stats
Overall in Tests, Starc boasts 412 wickets from 101 Tests at 26.64. This includes 17 fifers and 20 hauls of four wickets. Across 23 Tests against England in the Ashes, Starc has completed 107 wickets at 25.86. The left-arm pacer boasts five five-wicket hauls. His strike rate of 43 is the best among the 21 bowlers with 100-plus wickets in this rivalry.