Darwin [Australia], August 8: Australia pace spearhead Mitchell Starc is set to chase two significant milestones in Test cricket when the hosts begin their two-match series against Bangladesh in Darwin on August 13, with the veteran left-armer closing in on the wicket tallies of Kapil Dev and Dale Steyn.
Starc enters the series with 433 Test wickets, just one shy of Kapil Dev's haul of 434. Two wickets in the series opener at Marrara Stadium would see the 36-year-old move past the former India captain and break into the top 10 on the all-time list of Test wicket-takers, according to cricket.com.au.
The Australian quick could also climb the rankings among pace bowlers. Seven wickets across the two Tests would take him to 440 career wickets, moving him beyond South African legend Dale Steyn's 439 and into fifth place among the highest wicket-taking fast bowlers in Test history. Only James Anderson (704), Stuart Broad (604), Glenn McGrath (563) and Courtney Walsh (519) would remain ahead of him.
The milestones come at a time when Starc continues to produce some of the best cricket of his career.
The left-armer claimed 55 Test wickets at an average of 17.32 over the past year, playing a key role in Australia's 4-1 Ashes series triumph.
Starc has credited his consistency in recent years to improved mental clarity and the stability of Australia's pace attack alongside captain Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.
Source: Qatar Tribune