3 unforgettable first-ball wickets by Mitchell Starc, THIS Indian batter becomes 3rd victim

New Delhi: Mitchell Starc, a key fast bowler for Australia, is celebrated for his speed and knack for making early breakthroughs. Over the course of his career, he has consistently delivered vital wickets, often in the early stages of the game.

At 34, Starc has featured in 90 Tests, capturing 361 wickets, including 14 five-wicket hauls. Among his most remarkable accomplishments is the ability to take a wicket with the very first ball of a Test match on multiple occasions.

Here are three instances where Starc made an immediate impact, including his recent first-ball wicket during the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Adelaide.

Mitchell Starc has taken a wicket off the first ball of a Test match three times.

1 Against Sri Lanka in 2016

Starc achieved his first-ever “wicket off the first ball” in the second Test of Australia’s 2016 series against Sri Lanka in Galle. While the delivery wasn’t flawless, Starc bowled a half-volley on the pads to Dimuth Karunaratne, who played it straight to Joe Burns at mid-wicket for a simple catch.

Sri Lanka batted first and scored 281 runs in their first innings, with Kusal Mendis (86) and Angelo Mathews (54) leading the charge. Starc was the standout bowler for Australia, taking five wickets. In response, Australia struggled and was bowled out for just 106 runs.

Sri Lanka then set a challenging target of 413, posting 237 runs in their second innings. Australia never appeared to be in the contest, getting dismissed for 183 and losing the match by 229 runs.

2 Against England in 2021

In the opening match of the 2021-22 Ashes series in Brisbane, Mitchell Starc made an immediate impact with the very first ball of the match. He bowled a full yorker that shattered the base of Rory Burns’ leg stump.

Burns was completely beaten, falling over to the offside as he tried to clip the ball off his pads. The delivery, which angled into the left-hander from over the wicket, unexpectedly tailing away late and sharply, caught Burns off guard and sent the stumps flying.

England batted first, being dismissed for 147, while Australia responded with a dominant 425, anchored by a brilliant century from Travis Head (152). England managed 297 runs in their second innings, setting a modest target of 20 runs. Australia comfortably chased it down, winning the match by nine wickets.

3 Against India in 2024
In the ongoing second Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia, Mitchell Starc made an immediate impact by removing first-innings centurion Yashasvi Jaiswal with the very first ball.

The left-arm pacer delivered a full ball that angled in from over the wicket, only to swing away late. Jaiswal attempted a flick but missed, and the ball struck him in front of the stumps, sending him back for a golden duck.

This marked the third time Starc has taken a wicket off the first ball of a Test match, equaling Pedro Collins’ record.