Mitchell Starc etched his name into the record books in spectacular style, taking the fastest five-wicket haul ever recorded in men’s Test cricket. The Australian pacer needed just 15 deliveries to dismantle West Indies’ top order on day three at Sabina Park, reaching the milestone during his 100th Test match.
Starc made an explosive start with a triple-wicket opening over. He struck with the very first ball, dismissing John Campbell, who edged a perfect outswinger to substitute wicketkeeper Josh Inglis. Four balls later, debutant Kevlon Anderson shouldered arms to a swinging delivery that crashed into his pad in front of middle stump. He reviewed, but it was as plumb as they come. On the very next ball, Brandon King’s inside edge shattered the stumps, leaving West Indies reeling at 0 for 3—just the sixth time in Test history that had happened.
Although Mikyle Louis survived the hat-trick ball, he couldn’t hold out for long. Starc trapped him lbw early in the next over to claim his 400th Test wicket, joining Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, and Nathan Lyon as the only Australian bowlers to reach the landmark.
Two balls later, he pinned Shai Hope lbw to complete a five-wicket haul in just 15 balls, beating the previous record—held jointly by Ernie Toshack, Stuart Broad, and Scott Boland—by four deliveries.
Already regarded as the master of pink-ball cricket, Starc’s achievement came in Australia’s first day-night Test overseas, making the occasion all the more historic.
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