3 times Mitchell Starc picked up a wicket off the first ball of a Test ft. BGT 2024-25 in Adelaide
Mitchell Starc, one of Australia’s leading fast bowlers, is renowned for his pace and ability to strike early. Throughout his career, he has regularly provided his team with crucial breakthroughs, often in the opening overs.
At 34, Starc has played 90 Tests, taking 361 wickets, including 14 five-wicket hauls. However, one of his most impressive achievements has been claiming a wicket off the very first ball of a Test match on a few occasions.
In this article, we’ll highlight three such instances where Starc made an immediate impact, including his recent first-ball wicket in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Adelaide.
3 times Mitchell Starc picked up a wicket off the first ball of a Test
#1 Against Sri Lanka in 2016
Mitchell Starc claimed his first-ever 'wicket off the first ball' in a Test match during the second Test of Australia’s 2016 series against Sri Lanka in Galle. While it wasn’t a perfect delivery, Starc bowled a half-volley on the pads to Dimuth Karunaratne, who clipped it straight to Joe Burns at mid-wicket for an easy catch.
Sri Lanka batted first and scored 281 runs in their first innings, with Kusal Mendis (86) and Angelo Mathews (54) leading the way. Starc was the standout bowler for Australia, taking five wickets. In reply, Australia struggled, getting dismissed for just 106 runs.
Sri Lanka then set a challenging target of 413 by posting 237 runs in their second innings. Australia never looked in the hunt, being bowled out for 183 and losing the match by 229 runs.
#2 Against England in 2021
In the opening match of the 2021-22 Ashes series in Brisbane, Mitchell Starc bowled the first over and made an immediate impact with a full yorker that shattered the base of Rory Burns’ leg stump.
Burns was completely beaten, falling over to the offside as he attempted to clip the ball off his pads. The delivery, which angled into the left-hander from over the wicket, unexpectedly tailing away late and sharply, caught Burns off guard and sent the stumps flying.
Batting first, the visitors were dismissed for 147 and Australia replied with 425, led by a brilliant century from Travis Head (152). England managed 297 runs in their second innings, setting a modest target of 20 runs. Australia chased it down comfortably, winning the match by nine wickets.
#3 Against India in 2024
In the ongoing second Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia, Mitchell Starc removed first-innings centurion Yashasvi Jaiswal with the very first ball.
The left-arm pacer bowled a full delivery that angled in from over the wicket, only to swing away late. Jaiswal missed the flick, and the ball struck him in front of the stumps, leaving him dismissed for a golden duck.
This was the third time Starc has taken a wicket off the first ball of a Test match, matching Pedro Collins' record.