Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc etched his name into the cricketing history books with a phenomenal all-round performance during the day-night Ashes Test against England at Brisbane's Gabba on Saturday. Starc achieved the rare double of scoring over fifty runs and claiming a five-wicket haul in the same match, a feat accomplished by only two other players in the history of day-night Test cricket.
Starc Enters an Exclusive Club
With his brilliant showing, Mitchell Starc joined a very exclusive list. He is now the third cricketer ever to score 50 or more runs and take a five-wicket innings haul in a day-night Test match. The elite club was first entered by Sri Lanka's Dilruwan Perera, who did it against Pakistan in Dubai back in 2017. The second member was West Indies' Jason Holder, who achieved this double against Sri Lanka in Bridgetown in 2018.
Starc's bowling figures were an impressive 6 wickets for 75 runs. This marked his second five-wicket haul in the ongoing Ashes series and the 18th of his Test career. Not content with just his bowling, the left-arm pacer then showcased his batting prowess, contributing a vital 77 runs to Australia's first innings total.
A Record-Holding Number Nine Batter
Mitchell Starc's batting effort further solidified his reputation as one of the most productive tail-enders in modern Test cricket. He currently holds the record for the most runs scored by a number nine batter in Test history. In 64 Tests across 77 innings, Starc has accumulated 1,408 runs at an average of 22.34, including eight half-centuries and a highest score of 99. With this tally, he surpasses England's Stuart Broad, who has 1,389 runs.
This remarkable all-round performance also made Starc the second-oldest player ever to record this rare double against England in Test cricket. The only man to do it at an older age was West Indies legend Learie Constantine, who was 37 years and 332 days old when he achieved it at The Oval in 1939—exactly 86 years ago.
Match Context and Team Performances
The day-night Test at the Gabba saw England bowled out for 334 in their first innings, with captain Joe Root remaining unbeaten on 138. Jofra Archer was the last man dismissed, caught brilliantly by Marnus Labuschagne off Brendan Doggett's bowling.
In response, Australia posted a commanding total of 511, securing a substantial first-innings lead of 177 runs. The Australian batting effort was built on significant contributions from multiple players. Jake Weatherald scored 72, Marnus Labuschagne made 65, captain Steve Smith contributed 61, and wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey added 63 runs to the total, setting the stage for Starc's late-order flourish.
Mitchell Starc's historic double of runs and wickets has put Australia in a dominant position in the match and highlighted the unique challenges and opportunities presented by the pink-ball, day-night format of Test cricket.
