Australian star quick Mitchell Starc has become the first player to pick up 50 wickets in day-night Tests. The 31-year-old playing in his ninth pink-ball Test took four wickets in the first innings to break the back of the English batting lineup. Starc’s heroics helped Australia establish a first-innings lead of 237 runs as they seat in the driving seat to conquer the Adelaide Test.
Coming into the match the speedster had 46 wickets to his name, most by any bowler in day-night Test matches. After dismissing Rory Burns in the final session of Day 2, the New South Wales (NSW) star had to wait for a formidable time on Day 3 before he got going. In the second session of Day 3, Dawid Malan fell victim to Strac to become his 48th pink-ball wicket.
Wicketkeeper Jos Butler and Stuart Broad became Starc’s 49th and 50th wicket respectively to add the feather in the cap. It took 16 innings for the 6 ft 6 inch bowler to achieve the feat while his average of 18.86 is the best of any bowler under the lights in the longest format. The list contains a string of fellow Australian bowlers including Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
Starc who was criticized before the start of the Ashes for not performing up to his potential has somewhat silenced his critics with the four wickets. In the first Teat at Brisbane, he picked up three wickets and supported captain Pat Cummins in destroying the English batting attack. This time though in absence of Cummins, the talented pacer has underlined his importance with a four-wicket haul.
