Overview
- Starc claimed his 450th Test wicket when Wiaan Mulder gloved a short rising delivery to Matt Renshaw and a third‑umpire review on Tuesday confirmed the contact at St George’s Park in Gqeberha.
- He became the first left‑arm bowler to reach 450 Test wickets and did it in 20,577 balls, breaking Glenn McGrath’s previous balls‑bowled mark of 23,474.
- The milestone came in Starc’s 109th Test and leaves him fourth on Australia’s all‑time wicket list behind Shane Warne, Nathan Lyon and Glenn McGrath.
- South Africa recovered after the breakthrough to post 425‑9 declared, a turn of events Reuters and others said highlighted the impact of Australia selecting an all‑seam attack while leaving spinner Nathan Lyon out and managing Josh Hazlewood’s illness.
- Statisticians note different ‘fastest to 450’ measures matter: Starc leads by deliveries while Muttiah Muralitharan remains fastest by matches, and the record will fuel debate about selection and how bowling efficiency is judged moving forward.