Australian fast bowling legend Mitchell Starc has achieved another significant milestone. On Wednesday, June 11th, 2025, he etched his name in history by taking two wickets against South Africa in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 Final at Lord's.
Sports News: Australian left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc once again proved his mettle in a high-pressure encounter. On the first day of the WTC Final 2025 against South Africa, he claimed two crucial wickets, creating history in the process. Starc has now become the highest wicket-taker in ICC tournament finals, surpassing India's Mohammed Shami.
Starc Surpasses Shami, Becomes the 'King' of ICC Finals
Mitchell Starc dismissed Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton, taking his wicket tally in ICC finals to 11. Previously, this record was held by Mohammed Shami, who had taken 10 wickets in four ICC finals. However, at the historic Lord's pitch, as soon as Mitchell Starc took his second wicket, he surpassed Shami's record, becoming the most successful bowler in ICC finals.
This was Starc's fifth ICC final, and he has consistently delivered his best performances in big matches. Whether it was the 2015 ODI World Cup, the 2021 T20 World Cup, or now the WTC Final 2025, he has consistently troubled opposition batsmen on the biggest stages. This consistent performance has cemented his reputation as a big-match player.
Knockout Specialist: Equalling Glenn McGrath and Shami
Mitchell Starc has now taken 22 wickets in ICC knockout matches. With this tally, he has equalled Glenn McGrath and Mohammed Shami, who are jointly ranked second. Sri Lanka's legendary spinner Muttiah Muralitharan tops this list with 23 wickets in ICC knockout matches.
If Starc takes another wicket on Thursday, he could break Muralitharan's record and become the highest wicket-taker in ICC knockouts.
Day One's Play: Dominance by Bowlers
At the start of the match, South African captain Temba Bavuma won the toss and opted to bowl first, a decision that proved entirely correct. Kagiso Rabada's incisive bowling (5 wickets) and Marco Jansen's support (3 wickets) restricted Australia to 212 runs in their first innings. However, Australia responded bly. At the close of play, South Africa were 43/4. The Australian bowlers bowled with excellent line and length, dismantling the Proteas top order. South Africa still trails by 169 runs with six wickets remaining.
The secret to Mitchell Starc's success lies not just in his pace but also in his variations, experience, and mental fortitude. In big matches, he often displays an aggressive approach from the very first over, putting pressure on the opposition. He replicated this in this final. All eyes are now on Thursday's play, when Mitchell Starc will have the opportunity to surpass Muralitharan's record of 23 wickets. If he does so, he will become the most successful knockout bowler in ICC history.
