The third Test match between Australia and the West Indies was the 100th match of Mitchell Starc’s career. He became only the second Australian pacer to achieve this feat. The match ended in a historical manner, both for Australia and Starc.
Starc became only the second Australian pacer to take 400 wickets in this game. He also became the first left-arm Australian pacer to reach that number. Starc took the 16th five-wicket haul of his Test career in this game. He did something that seemed impossible for a long time. No bowler had completed their five-wicket haul in less than 19 deliveries before this game, and that changed here. Let’s look at the top five bowlers who have taken the fewest balls to a 5-wicket haul in Tests:
5. Shane Watson – 21 deliveries vs South Africa, Cape Town, 2011
In November 2011, Australia toured South Africa to play a two-match Test series. The first match was played at Cape Town, where the Proteas won the toss and elected to bowl. Michael Clarke played a knock of 151 runs off 176 deliveries and led Australia to a total of 284 runs in the first innings.
South Africa lost the wicket of Jacques Rudolph in the seventh over. Shane Watson came to bowl the 14th over of the Australian innings and took the wicket of Hashim Amla on his second delivery. On the sixth delivery of the over, Watson dismissed Jacques Kallis for a duck. He bowled a maiden over and took two wickets. He took the wickets of Graeme Smith and Ashwell Prince on the first two deliveries of the 18th over. On the third delivery of his next over, Warner took the wicket of Mark Boucher to complete a fifer. He did all this in 21 deliveries. Australia had a tough outing in their second innings, and South Africa won the match by eight wickets.
Taking multiple wickets in a single match is impressive, but dominating across an entire series is on another level. See the most wickets in a Test series and the legends who made it happen.
4. Scott Boland – 19 deliveries vs England, Melbourne, 2021
Scott Boland has not played much for Australia so far, but has been impactful in each of his outings. He made his Test debut during the Boxing Day Test of the Ashes in 2021 against England. Australia elected to field after winning the toss. England was bundled out for 185 runs in the first innings as Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon took three wickets each. Australia scored 267 runs in their first innings. Marcus Harris was the highest scorer for Australia and made 76 runs off 189 deliveries.
England lost two wickets before the fifth over was completed. Boland came out to bowl the 11th over of the innings and dismissed Haseeb Hameed and Jack Leach on the third and fifth deliveries, respectively. He came back to bowl the 23rd over and dismissed Jonny Bairstow on the fifth delivery. In the next over, Boland dismissed Joe Root and took the wicket of Mark Wood on the first delivery of his fourth over. It took him just 19 deliveries to complete the five-wicket haul.
3. Stuart Broad – 19 deliveries vs Australia, Nottingham, 2015
The fourth Test of the Ashes 2015 was played at Nottingham, where England won the toss and elected to bowl. Stuart Broad opened the bowling for England and took the wickets of Chris Rogers and Steven Smith in the first over. In his second over, Broad dismissed Shaun Marsh for a duck.
On the first delivery of his next over, Broad dismissed Adam Voges and took the wicket of Michael Clarke on the first delivery of the fourth over. He took 19 deliveries to take this five-wicket haul and equalled Ernie Toshack’s record of being the quickest to a five-wicket haul in Test cricket. Broad finished with eight wickets for 15 runs in 9.3 overs, and it is the best bowling figure by an English bowler in the 21st century.
2. Ernie Toshack – 19 deliveries vs India, Brisbane, 1947
In 1947, India travelled to Australia to play a five-match Test series. It was India’s first tour of Australia. The first Test of the series was played in Brisbane, where Australia won the toss and elected to bat. Skipper Donald Bradman scored 185 runs and declared the innings on 382 runs for the loss of eight wickets.
India lost five wickets for 23 runs before Vijay Hazare and Lala Amarnath added 30 runs for the sixth wicket. Ernie Toshack was introduced in the bowling attack and took the remaining five Indian wickets. He bowled 19 deliveries and gave away just two runs. In the second innings, Toshack took six wickets and delivered his best bowling figures.
1. Mitchell Starc – 15 deliveries vs West Indies, Kingston, 2025
Mitchell Starc broke the 78-year-old record in the third Test against the West Indies in 2025. Australia won the first two matches and was scheduled to face the West Indies in a day-night Test match. It was the 100th Test match for Starc. Australia won the toss and elected to bat. The team was bundled out for 225 runs in the first innings. The West Indies were bowled out for 143 runs in their first innings.
Mitchell Starc’s record-breaking spell not only highlights his pace but also adds to Australia’s legacy of iconic moments, including this incredible Test hat-trick that stands out in cricket history.
Australia could make only 121 runs in the second innings and gave the West Indies a target of 204 runs. However, Starc came in between the West Indies and the win. He bowled 7.3 overs in the match and took six wickets for nine runs. It took him just 15 deliveries to complete the five-wicket haul.
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