Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc has already claimed 29 wickets in just five Tests in Sri Lanka.
The Test series between Sri Lanka and Australia starts in two days, and Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc is close to breaking former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram’s unique record.
Mitchell Starc is close to a very rare feat in Test cricket. If he takes two wickets in the upcoming series in Galle starting Wednesday, he will surpass Pakistan’s Wasim Akram as the most successful visiting fast bowler in Test matches played in Sri Lanka.
What makes this achievement even more impressive is that Wasim Akram was a master of bowling in Asian conditions, using his skill to swing both the new and old ball effectively on pitches that are usually more favorable to spinners.
Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram picked up 30 wickets in eight Tests played in Sri Lanka from 1986 to 2000. He averaged 20.43 runs per wicket and took a wicket every 53.67 balls, which is about every nine overs.
On the other hand, Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc has already claimed 29 wickets in just five Tests in Sri Lanka. His numbers are even better, with an average of 17.48 runs per wicket and a strike rate of one wicket every 29.66 balls, or roughly every five overs.
Among bowlers with at least 25 Test wickets in Sri Lanka, no one, not even local hero and record-breaking spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, has been as quick to take wickets as Starc. The only player with a lower average than Starc is New Zealand’s Sir Richard Hadlee, who took 27 wickets at an average of 12.30.
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Speaking to cricket.com.au, Mitchell Starc said he felt proud to be in the same bracket as some of the greats such as Wasim Akram whom he feels was the greatest left-arm bowler ever. He said how exciting it was to spend time with Wasim and learn about bowling techniques like wrist position and swinging the ball. Starc added that matching or beating Wasim’s record would be a really special moment for him.
“It’s very humbling when you see some of those names. As a left-armer, once I started bowling properly and watching Wasim, he was arguably the greatest lefty of all time, ” Starc told cricket.com.au.
“So to be able to spend some time with him, and listen to him talk about bowling and his wrist (position) and swinging the ball has been really, really cool. If I manage to get one or two (wickets), or get equal with him or something like that, it would be pretty cool too,” he added.
The first Test between Sri Lanka and Australia starts on 29th January in Galle.
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