The year ends with Mitchell Stark’s new world record

Although England could not secure victory in the fourth Ashes Test, they managed to reduce the series deficit against Australia, thanks to Melbourne’s bowler-friendly pitch. By winning the match, England brought the series score to 3–1, even though the hosts had already secured the series. The match result was officially determined on Saturday, the second day. However, the Test will be remembered in Australian cricketing history for one extraordinary feat: Mitchell Starc’s remarkable world record.

The 35-year-old Australian pacer achieved the highest number of Test wickets in a calendar year while also setting a new benchmark for the lowest strike rate among bowlers who took a minimum of 50 wickets. With one Ashes Test remaining in Sydney, which begins on 4 January 2026, the 2025 Test cricket chapter for England and Australia has effectively concluded.

Starc claimed 55 wickets in red-ball cricket in 2025, achieving a strike rate of 28.3 balls per wicket. Until now, only Pakistan’s legendary Waqar Younis had managed 55 wickets in a calendar year while maintaining a strike rate below 30, recording a 29.5 strike rate in 1993. Starc surpassed this record 32 years later, etching his name into cricketing history.

While the number of matches differs—Starc achieved the feat across 11 Tests, compared to Younis’s 7—the achievement remains monumental. Although he does not top the list for most wickets in a single year, Starc’s record for strike rate sets him apart. The record for most wickets in a calendar year is held by Australian spin legend Shane Warne, who took 96 wickets in 15 Tests in 2005, followed by Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan, who claimed 90 wickets in 11 Tests the next year. Other bowlers who have taken 80 or more wickets in a year include Australia’s Dennis Lillee (85), South Africa’s Allan Donald (80), and Muralitharan again (80).

The following table compares Starc’s record with previous legends:

Despite not leading in total wickets, Starc’s 2025 performance is historic for its efficiency and precision, ensuring his name will be remembered in cricketing annals for generations to come.