Watch: Mitchell Starc picks all time best left arm fast bowler after his brilliant spell in 2nd Ashes Test
Mitchell Starc surpassed Akram on Day 1 of the 2nd Test of the ongoing Ashes 2025-26 at The Gabba by taking 6 wickets in a 19-over spell. With the 6 scalps, the Australian pacer is the most successful left-arm pacer in Test cricket.
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Mitchell Starc believes that Pakistan legend Wasim Akram is still “the pinnacle” of left-arm pace bowling. Starc surpassed Akram on Day 1 of the 2nd Test of the ongoing Ashes 2025-26 at The Gabba by taking 6 wickets in a 19-over spell. With the 6 scalps, the Australian pacer is the most successful left-arm pacer in Test cricket.
Starc rewrote history during the second session when he dismissed Harry Brook. Akram, widely known as the 'Sultan of Swing', took 414 wickets in 104 Test matches, while Starc now has 418 wickets in 102 matches. On Day 1 of the ongoing Australia vs England day-night Test, the Aussie pacer removed Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Harry Brook, Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, and Brydon Carse in the absence of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. After the first Test of the series, Cummins and Hazlewood are out of the Gabba Test because of injury concerns. Akram himself congratulated Starc for his historic feat.
The former Pakistan international wrote from his 'X' account, "Super Starc! Proud of you, mate; it was only a matter of time before you crossed my tally of wickets. Go well and keep soaring."
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Mitchell Starc named the best left-arm pacer over himself
During the post-match press conference, a journalist asked Starc if he is now the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) in Tests. Denying the label, the 35-year-old chose to stay humble and kept Akram ahead of him. According to him, Wasim Akram is still better than him.
"I'll reflect on it later. Wasim is still the pinnacle left-armer. I think he's still better. I get asked all the time; I still don't know. It is what it is. I think it's still like a white ball. Today, it was a softball. A couple of Yorkshiremen, runs and wickets. Joe's batted well there. A pretty tough day's cricket. I think once that ball goes soft, it's not the easiest thing to score with. It's certainly not the easiest thing to bowl with when it's soft. Proper Test cricket. Pink ball, 9 for 320, pretty solid day's Test cricket," Starc said this in the press conference.
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