The ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final at Lord’s delivered a day of high drama, showcasing the best of Test cricket’s unpredictability and intensity. While South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada rattled Australia with a five-wicket haul, it was Mitchell Starc’s fiery spell that stole the spotlight, not just for its immediate impact but for the historic record it brought. Starc’s performance saw him surpass India’s Mohammed Shami to become the leading wicket-taker in ICC finals across all formats, underlining his reputation as a big-match player.

Mitchell Starc creates history with a record-breaking spell 

Starc has long been Australia’s go-to weapon in high-stakes matches, and the WTC final was no exception. With Australia bowled out for just 212, the defending champions needed their pace attack to respond, and Starc delivered instantly. He dismissed South Africa’s Aiden Markram for a duck in the very first over, then followed up with the wicket of Ryan Rickelton, setting the tone for a ruthless Australian fightback. By stumps, South Africa were reeling at 43/4, with Starc’s opening seven-over spell yielding two wickets for just 10 runs.

These crucial wickets elevated Starc to a new milestone: he now holds the record for the most wickets in ICC finals (across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is), overtaking Mohammed Shami’s previous tally. Starc’s haul stands at 11 wickets in six ICC final innings, compared to Shami’s 10 in the same number of innings. This achievement is a testament to Starc’s consistency and ability to rise to the occasion when the stakes are highest.

Starc’s record is built on a series of memorable performances: two wickets in the 2015 ODI World Cup final, four in the 2023 WTC final, three in the 2023 ODI World Cup final, and now two in the ongoing WTC final. His knack for delivering in finals cements his legacy as one of cricket’s premier big-match bowlers.

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Starc’s unfolding legacy among the greats

Starc’s heroics in the WTC final also propelled him up several all-time lists. With his wickets at Lord’s, he reached 74 scalps in the 2023-2025 WTC cycle, matching Pat Cummins for second-most in the period, just behind Jasprit Bumrah’s 77. Additionally, Starc surpassed Sir Ian Botham’s career tally, moving to 384 Test wickets and further solidifying his place among the elite fast bowlers in history.

The significance of Starc’s achievement is heightened by the context: Australia were under pressure, and his early breakthroughs ensured the momentum swung back in their favor. Alongside Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, Starc’s relentless pace and swing left South Africa’s top order in tatters, giving Australia a commanding position at the end of a frenetic opening day.

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