A significant milestone in Test cricket history is on the horizon as Australia prepare to host Bangladesh in an upcoming two-match red-ball series. Left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc stands on the verge of breaking into a new tier among the game's greatest seamers. Legendary Indian all-rounder and 1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev is set to see his long-standing Test wicket tally overtaken in the coming weeks.
Kapil Dev's Historic Legacy and Starc's Chase
Kapil Dev currently occupies the 11th position on the all-time list of highest wicket-takers in Test cricket history. Over an illustrious career spanning 131 Test matches and 227 innings, the former Indian skipper claimed 434 wickets at an average of 29.64, while also accumulating over 5,000 runs. Back in 1994, Kapil Dev had surpassed Sir Richard Hadlee of New Zealand to become the leading wicket-taker in Test history. He held that world record for nearly six years before West Indies icon Courtney Walsh surpassed him in the year 2000.
Standing in line to pass him now is Mitchell Starc, who has gathered 433 wickets across 105 Tests and 202 innings. Starc's career statistics include 18 five-wicket hauls in an innings. Requiring just 2 more wickets to reach 435, Starc is primed to push Kapil Dev down to 12th place on the overall rankings table.
Targeting Top 10 Overall and Top 5 Fast Bowlers
The upcoming assignment against Bangladesh offers Starc more than just one milestone. Beyond overtaking Kapil Dev, the Australian speedster has former South Africa pacer Dale Steyn firmly in his sights. Steyn sits 10th on the all-time chart with 439 Test wickets. Should Starc claim 7 wickets across the two Test matches, he will leapfrog Steyn to secure a place in the overall Top 10 Test wicket-takers list, while simultaneously entering the Top 5 among fast bowlers in the history of the sport.
Australia vs Bangladesh Test Series Schedule
The two-match Test series between Australia and Bangladesh is scheduled to commence on August 13. The opening Test will take place in Darwin from August 13 to August 17. The teams will then head to Mackay for the second and final Test match, which runs from August 22 to August 26. Starc will lead the Australian bowling attack in both fixtures, making the series a key spectacle for cricket stat enthusiasts worldwide.
All-Time Leading Wicket-Takers in Test Cricket
Here is how the top echelon of Test wicket-takers currently stands
- Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) - 800 wickets
- Shane Warne (Australia) - 708 wickets
- James Anderson (England) - 704 wickets
- Anil Kumble (India) - 619 wickets
- Stuart Broad (England) - 604 wickets
- Nathan Lyon (Australia) - 567 wickets
- Glenn McGrath (Australia) - 563 wickets
- Ravichandran Ashwin (India) - 537 wickets
- Courtney Walsh (West Indies) - 519 wickets
- Dale Steyn (South Africa) - 439 wickets
- Kapil Dev (India) - 434 wickets
- Mitchell Starc (Australia) - 433 wickets
