Mon Jan 27 14:23:45 IST 2025: ## Starc on Cusp of Sri Lanka Bowling Record, Eyes 400 Wickets & 100th Test

**Galle, Sri Lanka** – Australian pace bowler Mitchell Starc is on the verge of etching his name into cricketing history. Just two wickets away from surpassing Wasim Akram’s record as the most successful visiting Test fast bowler in Sri Lanka, Starc is poised to achieve a feat made even more impressive given the notoriously spin-friendly nature of Sri Lankan pitches.

Starc currently boasts 29 wickets in five Tests on the island, achieving a superior average and strike rate compared to Akram’s impressive tally. His strike rate, in fact, surpasses even that of Muttiah Muralidaran, the game’s all-time leading wicket-taker. Only Sir Richard Hadlee boasts a better average amongst bowlers with 25 or more wickets in Sri Lanka.

Beyond this impending milestone, Starc is also eyeing two significant career benchmarks: reaching 400 Test wickets and playing his 100th Test match. Currently on 376 wickets, he expects to reach 400 during Australia’s upcoming series in the Caribbean. The final Test of that series would also mark his 100th Test, a feat achieved by only one other fast bowler, Glenn McGrath.

While acknowledging his remarkable achievements, Starc remains humble, prioritizing team success over personal milestones. He credits his success in subcontinent conditions to his exceptional pace and ability to adapt his bowling to different surfaces. He notes the challenges of bowling in Asia, contrasting the dry, reverse-swing conditions of previous Sri Lankan tours with the watered pitches of 2022.

Despite his focus on team performance, Starc is also aware of another interesting statistic: he’s currently third on the list of players with most Test runs without a century, just 56 runs short of surpassing Tim Southee. However, he’s made peace with his highest Test score of 99, focusing instead on his wife Alyssa Healy’s upcoming Ashes match, hoping she’ll achieve the century he missed.

Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka begins Wednesday in Galle. The cricketing world watches with anticipation as Starc seeks to add to his already legendary career.

Read More