Mitchell Starc's momentous series in numbers
Australia’s Mitchell Starc toiled away relentlessly as his colleagues wilted around him under the warm Sri Lankan sun. When the carnage ended after three Test matches, Australia had nothing to show for their efforts as the hosts handed them a humiliating clean sweep. Amidst the rubbles, there was one Australian that stood tall for the tourists. With his 24 scalps in the series, Mitchell Starc created a host of records.
Such was his prowess with the ball that Allan Donald – Australia’s interim bowling coach – rated the performance as the best he’s seen from a paceman in Test cricket. "I think his last wicket, the 11th wicket, was 148kph late in the day. Swinging it both ways. That's got to go down as probably the best I've seen”, said the South African legend.
Here’s a look at Mitchell Starc’s series in stats.
#1 The record for most wickets by an Australian fast-bowler in a three-Test series
The legendary Dennis Lillee held the record previously. His 23 wicket haul in a three-Test series against England in 1979-80 was achieved on home turf. It has taken all of 37 years for an Australian to better that effort. And Starc did that with six wickets in the first Test, a career-best of 11 wickets in the second and seven in the third at Colombo. Shane Warne however, holds the overall Australian record for a three-Test series with his 27 wicket haul against Pakistan in 2002.
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#2 Most wickets by an Australian paceman in a series in Asia
- Starc’s consistent show in Sri Lanka meant that he now sits atop the leaderboard for most wickets claimed by a visiting fast-bowler in a three-Test series in Asia. In doing so, he surpassed New Zealand’s Sir Richard Hadlee who took 23 wickets in Sri Lanka in 1984. The record for most wickets by a pacer in a three-Test series in Asia belongs to Pakistan’s Waqar Younis who claimed 29 wickets in 1990 against New Zealand.
- Here’s the Leaderboard for most wickets in a test-series in Asia
1 Alan Davidson (v Ind, 1959): 29 wickets at 14.86 in five matches. SR: 50.6. BBI: 7-93. BBM: 12-124 2 Mitchell Starc (v SL, 2016): 24 wickets at 15.16 in three matches. SR: 25.8. BBI: 6-50. BBM: 11-94 3 Geoff Dymock (v Ind, 1979): 24 wickets at 24.16 in five matches. SR: 53.1. BBI: 7-67. BBM: 12-166 4 Graham McKenzie (v Ind, 1969): 21 wickets at 21.00 in five matches. SR: 63.4. BBI: 6-67. BBM: 7-101 5 Jason Gillespie (v Ind, 2004): 20 wickets at 16.15 in four matches. SR: 39.8. BBI: 5-56. BBM: 9-80 #3 The best-strike rate in a haul of 20 wickets or more
Starc’s 24 wickets came at a better strike-rate (25.80) than any bowler – pace or spin – to have taken 20 wickets in a series in Asia.
#4 Most wickets in a three-match series by a visiting paceman in Asia
1 Mitchell Starc (Aus v SL, 2016): 24 wickets at 15.16. SR: 25.8. BBI: 6-50. BBM: 11-94 2 Sir Richard Hadlee (NZ v SL, 1984): 23 wickets at 10.00. SR: 30.7. BBI: 5-29 BBM: 10-102 3 Sir Richard Hadlee (NZ v India, 1988): 18 wickets at 14.00. SR: 33.6. BBI: 6-49 BBM: 10-88 4 Sir Richard Hadlee (NZ v India, 1988): 18 wickets at 14.00. SR: 33.6. BBI: 6-49 BBM: 10-88 5 Kenny Benjamin (WI v India, 1994): 17 wickets at 28.82. SR: 37.2. BBI: 5-65 BBM: 8-171 #5 Starc’s 100th Test wicket
His 11-wicket haul in the second match saw Starc surpass 100 Test wickets. Incidentally, it was also his first 10-wicket haul of his Test career.
Also read: Sri Lanka vs Australia: Player ratings from the series