Australian pace ace Mitchell Starc has etched his name in cricketing history by becoming the highest wicket-taker in ICC tournament finals, surpassing India’s Mohammed Shami. Starc achieved this milestone at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground during the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) Final against South Africa.
With a tally of 11 wickets in six ICC final innings, Starc overtook Shami’s record of 10 wickets from four appearances. His overall figures across five ICC finals now stand at an impressive 11 wickets at an average of 26.63, maintaining an economy of 5.17.
A highlight of Starc’s finals career came in the 2023 ICC World Cup final, where his spell of 3 for 55 against India helped seal Australia’s victory in Ahmedabad.
In contrast, Mohammed Shami’s finals record includes 10 wickets at an average of 38.90, with his best performance being 4 for 76 against New Zealand in the 2021 final.
During this WTC Final, Starc’s early strikes, removing Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton, left South Africa reeling at 43 for 4 by the end of Day 1 — a crucial turnaround after Kagiso Rabada’s fiery 5-wicket burst had earlier dismantled Australia from 190 for 5 to 212 all out.
As Starc continues to lead Australia’s bowling resurgence, this new record only cements his legacy as one of the game’s greats under high-stakes pressure.
