Published: Aug 16, 2016, 12:56 PM (IST)
Edited: Aug 17, 2016, 02:11 AM (IST)
What Richard Hadlee did in New Zealand in 1984, has now been broken by Mitchell Starc in the ongoing series against Sri Lanka. Starc now holds the record for most wickets by a non-Asian fast bowler in the subcontinent. Starc has already the record of three consecutive five-wicket haul while bowling out Sri Lanka on Day Two for 355. His other pace bowler Josh Hazlewood went wicketless, but Starc and Nathan Lyon continued to trouble the Asian batsmen. LIVE CRICKET SCORECARD: Sri Lanka vs Australia, 3rd Test at Colombo
| P | M | I | B | R | W | BBI | BBM | A | E | SR | 5 | 10 | Start Date |
| Mitchell Starc (Aus) | 3 | 6 | 551 | 318 | 24 | 6 for 50 | 6 for 50 | 13.25 | 3.46 | 22.9 | 3 | 1 | July 26, 2016 |
| Richard Hadlee (NZ) | 3 | 6 | 707 | 230 | 23 | 5 for 29 | 10 for 102 | 10 | 1.95 | 30.7 | 2 | 1 | March 9, 1984 |
| Brett Schultz (SA) | 3 | 5 | 745 | 326 | 20 | 5 for 48 | 9/106 | 16.3 | 2.62 | 37.2 | 2 | 0 | August 25, 1993 |
| Richard Hadlee (NZ) | 3 | 4 | 605 | 252 | 18 | 6 for 49 | 6/49 | 14 | 2.49 | 33.6 | 2 | 1 | November 12, 1988 |
| Kenny Benjamin (WI) | 3 | 6 | 826 | 490 | 17 | 5 for 65 | 8/171 | 28.82 | 3.55 | 48.5 | 1 | 0 | November 18, 1994 |
| Courtney Walsh (WI) | 3 | 6 | 845 | 361 | 17 | 6 for 79 | 8/143 | 21.23 | 2.56 | 49.7 | 1 | 0 | November 18, 1994 |
| Glenn McGrath (Aus) | 3 | 6 | 818 | 261 | 17 | 4 for 18 | 7/121 | 15.35 | 1.91 | 48.1 | 0 | 0 | February 27, 2001 |
| Wes Hall (WI) | 3 | 6 | 605 | 287 | 16 | 5 for 87 | 5/87 | 17.93 | 2.84 | 37.8 | 1 | 0 | February 20, 1959 |
| Malcolm Marshall (WI) | 3 | 6 | 684 | 266 | 16 | 5 for 33 | 5/33 | 16.62 | 2.33 | 42.7 | 1 | 0 | October 24, 1986 |
| Ian Bishop (WI) | 3 | 6 | 630 | 302 | 16 | 5 for 41 | 7/100 | 18.87 | 2.87 | 39.3 | 1 | 0 | November 15, 1990 |
Six wickets in the first Test in Kandy were followed by match figures of 11 for 94 in Galle, the best-ever figures by an Australian bowler in a Test in Sri Lanka. Out of Test cricket since last November due to foot and ankle injuries, Starc looked in fine touch in first innings in Kandy last month. In the second and third Test, he continued his form and remains the highest wicket-taker in the series. ALSO READ: Mitchell Starc creates history against Sri Lanka
Australia’s former cricketers along with coach Darren Lehmann are confident Starc can achieve the feat of 300 Test wickets with more series to go against Pakistan and South Africa in the coming summer. Australia’s pace-bowling consultant Allan Donald said on Saturday that Starc had “greatness written all over him”. After end of Day 2, Starc mentioned he was looking forward to watch his younger brother perform Brandon in the Olympic high jump.
