With a delivery showcasing his signature slinging, left-arm release and trademark inswing, Mitchell Starc knocked over Rassie van der Dussen’s off-stump to claim his 300th Test wicket on a grassy Gabba wicket yesterday afternoon.
The elusive club – which consists of baggy green legends Shane Warne (708), Glenn McGrath (563), Nathan Lyon (454*), Dennis Lillee (355), Mitchell Johnson (313) and Brett Lee (310) – welcomes the boy from North Sydney as its newest member.
Starc made his Test debut for Australia in 2011 as a 21-year-old at the Gabba against New Zealand.
The first casualty of his Test career was Kiwis star Brendon McCullum – the same man he knocked over for a duck in the 2015 ICC World Cup Final – on the same pitch he claimed wicket no. 300.
74 of those now 301 wickets have come against England with none more memorable than the opening ball of the 2021/22 Ashes again at the Gabba when an inswinging yorker crashed into the stumps to send opener Rory Burns on his way and kick the crowd into delirium.
The soon-to-be 33-year-old still has some climbing to do as well.
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With another two Tests remaining this summer before massive tours to India and England next year, he will have every opportunity to move further up the all-time Test wickets list and cement his name in Australian cricket folklore.
He trails Lee by just nine wickets and Johnson by just 12; a strong end to the summer could have him in the top five before he even packs his suitcase for the subcontinent.
Lillee’s 355 is a little further off but certainly is not out of the question.
He has taken 37 wickets over his past 11 Test matches; continuing at that rate would have his total up towards 340 at the conclusion of The Ashes provided he remains healthy and plays every Test, which may not be a given.
At his peak, Starc’s lightning bolt inswingers had him ranked as a top five Test bowler in the world whilst also spending time as the world’s number one ODI bowler.
Now as his career reaches its twilight, Starc continues opening the bowling for the world’s number one Test attack alongside Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and fellow ‘300 Club’ member Nathan Lyon (who is also a member of the even more elusive ‘400 Club’).
As Starc closes in on a pair of former-teammates and perhaps beyond, all eyes remain on one of Australian cricket’s great fast bowlers.
