Photo: AFP
Australia pacer Mitchell Starc claimed his 200th ODI wicket late in the third match against Zimbabwe to break a 23-year-old record.
In his 102nd ODI, Starc had man-of-the-match Ryan Burl caught for 11 to become the fastest player to 200 wickets, eclipsing a 23-year benchmark set by off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq (104 matches).
The 32-year-old’s latest feat only adds to the case for him to be considered the greatest white-ball bowler Australia has ever had, reaching the double-century in fewer matches than Brett Lee (who took 112 ODIs), Shane Warne (125), Mitchell Johnson (129) and Glenn McGrath (133).
Of those Australians, only McGrath (22.02) has a better ODI bowling average than Starc (22.30 after the wicket of Burl) while none have a better strike-rate than his 26.20.
Back in 2016, Starc was also the quickest ever to 100 ODI wickets (after 52 matches), although that mark was bettered in 2018 when Afghanistan spinner Rashid incredibly got there in eight fewer matches.
