Mitchell Starc becomes Test cricket’s leading left-arm wicket-taker with 434*

Mitchell Starc became the leading left-arm wicket-taker in Test cricket when he dismissed Shadman Islam for his 434th wicket during the first Test between Australia and Bangladesh at the Marrara Cricket Ground in Darwin on August 13. The wicket moved Starc past Rangana Herath’s 433 and arrived in Starc’s 106th Test match.

Australia are hosting Bangladesh in a two-match Test series, with the second Test scheduled to begin on August 22; the first match started on August 13 at the Marrara Cricket Ground. Australia arrived for the series off a 4-1 Ashes victory over England earlier this year in which Starc was named Player of the Series after taking 31 wickets at an average of 19.94, including two five-wicket hauls. After that Ashes campaign Starc played in the Indian Premier League 2026 for Delhi Capitals, appearing in six matches and taking 11 wickets at a strike rate of 12 and an average of 20.

The 36-year-old’s 434th Test wicket, the dismissal of Shadman Islam, established him as the leading left-arm wicket-taker in Test history according to the figures recorded during the match. That single dismissal pushed Starc ahead of Rangana Herath’s total of 433 left-arm Test wickets and was recorded in Starc’s 106th Test appearance.

In the first innings of the match Australia, having elected to bat first, were bowled out for 198, with Hasan Mahmud’s bowling described as restricting the hosts. Mitchell Starc claimed the opening breakthrough in that innings, and Steve Smith was the top-scorer for Australia with 71 runs.

Starc retired from T20Is in 2025 to concentrate on Test cricket and the 2027 ODI World Cup, and the Australian board has deliberately limited his ODI involvement because the WTC 2025-27 is a priority. He has played only select ODI series, the most recent of which was against India in October 2025, while Australia sit top of the WTC points table with seven wins in eight Tests.

Australia are scheduled to play three Tests against the defending Test champions, South Africa, later this year and five Tests against India in 2027. The second Test of the current two-match series against Bangladesh is due to begin on August 22.