Archive · 6 Aug 2026
Mitchell Starc chases Kapil Dev record in Australia-Bangladesh Test series
Mitchell Starc is a fast bowler who plays cricket for Australia.
He has taken 433 wickets in Test matches, the longest kind of international cricket game.
He is very close to passing two famous bowlers, Kapil Dev and Dale Steyn.
Australia will play two matches against Bangladesh, starting on August 13 in Darwin.
If Starc takes two wickets in the first match, he will pass Kapil Dev.
If he takes seven wickets in total, he will also pass Dale Steyn.
Starc says it is nice to be mentioned with those greats, but helping his team win matters more.
One of his teammates, Michael Neser, hurt his calf and cannot play.
Another teammate, Josh Inglis, had back pain but should still be fine for the first match.
Mitchell Starc has 433 Test wickets and needs just two to pass Kapil Dev's tally of 434 in the Darwin opener.
Seven wickets across the series would move Starc past Dale Steyn's 439 into fifth place among Test fast bowlers.
Australia begin a two-match World Test Championship series against Bangladesh in Darwin on August 13.
Starc is the leading wicket-taker in the current WTC cycle with 46 wickets from eight matches and took 31 during the Ashes.
Michael Neser is ruled out with a right calf strain, while Josh Inglis is expected to be available despite back spasms.
- Who
- Mitchell Starc of Australia, with head coach Andrew McDonald and teammates Michael Neser and Josh Inglis.
- What
- Starc, with 433 Test wickets, is closing in on Kapil Dev's 434 and Dale Steyn's 439 on the all-time Test bowling list as Australia prepare for a two-match series against Bangladesh.
- When
- The two-match World Test Championship series begins on August 13 in Darwin, with the second Test scheduled from August 22-26.
- Where
- The series opener is at Marrara Stadium in Darwin, followed by the second Test in Mackay.
- Why
- Starc is chasing personal milestones after 16 years in the game, while Australia aim to claim a second World Test Championship mace at The Oval next year.
- Current Test wickets
- 433 in 105 matches
- Target milestones
- Kapil Dev 434; Dale Steyn 439
- Starc's age
- 36
- WTC cycle wickets
- 46 from 8 matches
- Series
- Two-match World Test Championship vs Bangladesh
- Test schedule
- Darwin Aug 13-17; Mackay Aug 22-26
- Neser injury
- Right calf strain; ruled out
- Inglis fitness
- Back flare-up; no availability concern
