An Oddsworth Opinion
What Mitchell Starc's 20th Test five-for says about his place among the greats
The story
Mitchell Starc took 6/72 against South Africa for his 20th Test five-wicket haul, a feat the report says matches Dale Steyn. His spell turned 203 for 1 into 329 all out, with the series level at 1-1 and the match framed as pivotal.
The Times of India · 28 October at 02:01 GMTMitchell Starc equals Dale Steyn, leaves several legends behind in elite listRead the full storyIt came when Australia needed it most, with South Africa cruising at 203 for 1 before being bowled out for 329, and the series standing at 1-1.
Steyn is flattering company, and the timing makes it more flattering still. Over the last two years of men's Tests, Starc has taken 93 wickets in 20 matches at an average of 20.2, against 29.22 for every bowler in those Tests. That is a bowler who made his Test debut in December 2011 doing some of his sharpest work.
Has Starc peaked late in his Test career?
He has. His career average of 26.19 across 109 Tests is good without being remarkable, and the last two years have only brought it down. His economy rate over that spell is 3.48 an over against 3.46 for everyone, so the gain has come from taking wickets far more often while conceding runs at the usual rate.
The run behind it has been relentless: 7/41 against West Indies in July 2025, ten wickets in the match against England that November, eight more in the next Test, and 10/51 against Bangladesh in August 2026, a stretch that would sit comfortably in any fast bowler's prime.
This series had been harder going before this spell. He took 3/96 in Australia's win at Kingsmead and 3/89 in the innings defeat at St George's Park, honest work without the haul that turns a Test.
4.1 a match in his career
Where Starc ranks among the world's Test bowlers
Our ratings place him ninth of the 75 bowlers in men's Tests, worth 22 runs a match more than an average bowler. Among bowlers in the Sheffield Shield, the same ratings have him fifth of 55.
Is Mitchell Starc one of the modern greats?
Yes. Starc has 451 Test wickets, a modern great's record by any reading, and the last two years have given it a late peak. Ninth in the world feels a modest place for a bowler doing his best work this late.
The only debate left is how high among the modern greats he finishes, and on this form he is still climbing.