Mitchell Starc is on the verge of making cricket history in the second Ashes Test at the Gabba, with the opportunity to surpass legendary Pakistani fast bowler Wasim Akram’s record for the most Test wickets by a left-arm pacer.
Starc, who made his Test debut in 2011, currently has 412 Test wickets, just two shy of Akram’s 414.
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The record is widely regarded as the benchmark for left-arm quicks, and with England arriving in Brisbane, all eyes are on Starc as he looks to cement his place among the game’s all-time greats.
Most Test wickets by left-arm pacers:
| Rank | Name | Team | Wickets | Matches | Span |
| 1 | Wasim Akram | Pakistan | 414 | 104 | 1985-2002 |
| 2 | Mitchell Starc | Australia | 412 | 101 | 2011-Present |
| 3 | Chaminda Vaas | Sri Lanka | 355 | 111 | 1994-2009 |
| 4 | Trent Boult | New Zealand | 317 | 78 | 2011-2022 |
| 5 | Mitchell Johnson | Australia | 313 | 73 | 2007-2015 |
Starc’s form in the current Ashes series has been outstanding.
During the Perth Test, he single-handedly carried Australia’s weakened pace attack, claiming 7 wickets for 58 runs in the first innings and finishing with a ten-wicket haul in the match to halt England’s Bazball charge.
With Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood sidelined, Starc’s performance highlighted his experience and skill under pressure.
In 2025 alone, Starc has taken 39 wickets at an impressive average of 15.71.
READ: The Ashes 2025–26: Schedule, Squads, Records and Where to Watch
He is now just 11 wickets away from his personal best for a single calendar year, set back in 2016.
With three more Tests remaining this season, including a day-night match at the Gabba, where he has historically excelled, the chance to rewrite history is well within reach.
It would be a monumental achievement for the Australian pacer, and also emphasizes the enduring greatness of Akram, whose record stood for nearly 25 years and is now being challenged by one of modern cricket’s most lethal left-arm bowlers.
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The second Test between England and Australia will be played from December 4 to 8 and will start at 9:00 AM PST.
