AUS vs WI: Mitchell Starc becomes fifth Australia pacer to achieve rare feat on Day 1 of 2nd Test

Left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc reached the milestone of 350 Test wickets and became the fifth Australian bowler to claim this feat during the opening day of the second Test against the West Indies.

SportsTak Desk

• Thu • 25 Jan 2024

Mitchell Starc of Australia celebrates taking the wicket of Alick Athanaze of the West Indies. (Getty Images)

Highlights:

Mitchell Starc became the fifth Australian bowler to claim 350 Test wickets.

He achieved this feat by dismissing Alick Athanze during the second Test against the West Indies.

Australia's fast bowler Mitchell Starc achieved the milestone of 350 wickets in Test cricket, becoming the fifth Australian to reach this landmark. Starc accomplished this feat during the Day and Night Test match against the West Indies at the Gabba Stadium in Brisbane.

Heading into the second Test match, the left-arm quick needed two wickets to complete this milestone. In the 20th over, Starc successfully dismissed Tagernarine Chanderpaul, who scored 21. In the 22nd over, Alick Athanze became his 350th Test scalp. Starc continued his impressive performance, claiming Justin Greaves at six in the 26th over, causing a significant impact on the West Indies batting lineup.

MILESTONE MOMENT FOR STARC

Shane Warne, boasting 708 wickets, Glenn McGrath with 563, Nathan Lyon with 512, and Dennis Lillee with 355 wickets precede Starc in the prestigious list. Starc has now become the third left-arm pacer to achieve the milestone of 350 Test wickets. The 32-year-old sits behind Pakistan's legendary pacer Wasim Akram, who has 414 wickets, and Sri Lankan icon Chaminda Vaas with 355 scalps. In his 87th Test, the veteran pacer has garnered an impressive record of 14 five-wicket hauls and two 10-wicket match hauls.

Starc has secured 27 wickets in seven Test matches against the West Indies. Despite winning the toss and choosing to bat, the West Indies couldn't capitalise on favourable batting conditions as the quick bowlers exploited the swinging pink ball. Josh Hazlewood struck first for Australia, dismissing skipper Craig Brathwaite at 4. Australian captain Pat Cummins claimed the wicket of Kirk McKenzie, and the visitors continued to lose wickets regularly due to poor shot selection. Australia found themselves at 5/64 in the 1st session.

Having convincingly defeated the West Indies in the first Test at Adelaide, the hosts aim for a clean sweep by winning the second Test. Australia already hold an impressive record in pink-ball Tests.

(Powered by AI, Inputs by India Today)

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