Mitchell Starc closes in on Kapil Dev, Dale Steyn Test wicket milestones

NEW DELHI: Australia pace spearhead Mitchell Starc is just one wicket away from drawing level with Indian great Kapil Dev on the all-time list of Test wicket-takers, but the veteran left-armer insists the milestone will only truly sink in once his playing days are over.

Starc, who has claimed 433 wickets in 105 Tests, is set to chase history when Australia host Bangladesh in a two-Test series beginning in Darwin on August 13. One wicket will see him equal Kapil's tally of 434, while two wickets will move him past the former India captain and into the top 10 of Test cricket's highest wicket-takers. The 36-year-old is also closing in on South African pace legend Dale Steyn, whose 439 wickets make him one of the game's greatest fast bowlers. A haul of seven wickets across the series would take Starc beyond Steyn as well.

'It is cool and very humbling'

Despite the looming milestones, Starc remains focused on the job rather than the numbers. "It means I've played a bit," Starc told the Australian Associated Press when asked about approaching the landmark. Reflecting on the prospect of joining some of cricket's greatest names, he added: "It is cool and very humbling to be spoken about it with those guys. But that stuff doesn't mean a whole lot while you're still playing. You don't get too far ahead." Should he overtake Kapil and Steyn during the Bangladesh series, Starc will further cement his place among the finest fast bowlers of the modern era.

Still getting better at 36

Starc believes his longevity has been built on constant improvement rather than simply relying on raw pace. "When you're 36 and you've been around for 16 years, you'd like to think you've improved or got better at something," he said. "You're also around that long because you're able to develop and learn and improve." The left-arm quick also highlighted the technical tweaks that have helped him remain one of the world's most dangerous bowlers. "And you add in a few things like the wobble seam, consistency and other things. I have a pretty clear mindset on it all," Starc added.

His performances back up those words. Starc currently leads the wicket-taking charts in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship cycle with 46 wickets from just eight matches, underlining his continued value to Australia. Among Australian bowlers, only Shane Warne (708), Nathan Lyon (567) and Glenn McGrath (563) have taken more Test wickets than Starc. Australia will begin the two-match series against Bangladesh in Darwin from August 13-17, before the teams travel to Mackay for the second Test from August 22-26.