Mitchell Starc: Australia's Left-Arm Express
A complete guide to Mitchell Starc — Australia's left-arm fast bowler, 350+ Test wickets, the Player of the Tournament at the 2015 World Cup, and owner of one of the most dangerous inswinging yorkers in modern cricket.
Mitchell Starc is one of the most dangerous left-arm fast bowlers in cricket history — a 150 km/h express who can swing the ball late and deliver the most devastating inswinging yorker in the modern game. He has taken over 350 Test wickets at an average of around 27 and has been a central figure in Australia's World Cup victories in 2015 (ODI) and 2023 (WTC). He was named Player of the Tournament at the 2015 Cricket World Cup, which Australia won.
Bowling Style: Pace, Swing, and the Yorker
Born on 30 January 1990 in Baulkham Hills, New South Wales, Starc is a left-arm pace bowler who generates considerable pace from a flowing action and can both swing and seam the ball. His most dangerous delivery is the inswinging yorker — a full-length ball delivered at high pace that swings late into the right-handed batsman's feet, leaving them no room to play. In limited-overs cricket, a well-executed Starc yorker is nearly unplayable. He is also extremely effective with the new ball in Test cricket, where he generates conventional swing.
Test Career and WTC 2023
In Test cricket, Starc has been Australia's frontline left-arm option alongside Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon. His new-ball partnership with Cummins — different styles, both effective — has been one of Australia's great recent bowling alliances. In the 2023 WTC final against India, Starc contributed critical wickets as Australia won by 209 runs. He also played in the 2023 Ashes, where Australia retained the urn. His Test performances are more variable than his white-ball brilliance — he can be expensive but is always a wicket-taking threat.
Career Statistics
| Format | Mat | Wkts | Avg | Best | 5-fors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 90+ | 355+ | 27.5 | 6/28 | 15+ |
| ODIs | 108 | 235 | 22.35 | 6/28 | 12 |
| T20Is | 56 | 78 | 18.71 | 6/28 | 1 |
Frequently asked questions
How many wickets did Mitchell Starc take at the 2015 World Cup?
Mitchell Starc took 22 wickets at an average of 10.18 at the 2015 Cricket World Cup, making him the Player of the Tournament. Australia won the tournament without losing a match. Starc's inswinging yorker was devastating throughout, and he dismissed key batsmen in virtually every game.
What is Mitchell Starc's best bowling figure?
Mitchell Starc's best bowling figures are 6/28, which he has recorded in multiple formats. In Tests his best is 6/50 against New Zealand in 2015. In ODIs and T20Is he has achieved 6/28. He is equally effective across all three formats.
How fast does Mitchell Starc bowl?
Mitchell Starc regularly bowls at 145-152 km/h (90-95 mph) and is one of the fastest left-arm bowlers in Test cricket history. His combination of pace and late inswing — particularly his yorker — makes him difficult to score from even when he does not generate wicket-threatening movement.