Mitchell Starc Shatters 78-Year-Old Test Record With Fastest Five-Wicket Haul In History
In a dazzling exhibition of raw pace and surgical precision, Mitchell Starc delivered a spell of fast bowling that will go down in cricketing folklore. On Day 3 of the series-deciding Test against the West Indies at Sabina Park, the Australian left-arm quick produced the fastest five-wicket haul in the 147-year history of Test cricket — a mere 15 balls.
Starc, featuring in his milestone 100th Test, eclipsed a record that had endured for nearly eight decades. The previous benchmark of 19 balls, held jointly by Ernie Toshack (1947), Stuart Broad (2015), Scott Boland (2021), and Shane Watson (2011), now sits in Starc’s rear-view mirror as he redefined fast-bowling excellence.
| Player | Balls Taken | Opponent | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Starc | 15 balls | West Indies | 2025 |
| Ernie Toshack | 19 balls | India | 1947 |
| Stuart Broad | 19 balls | Australia | 2015 |
| Scott Boland | 19 balls | England | 2021 |
| Shane Watson | 21 balls | South Africa | 2011 |
Resuming with the Windies at 24/4 chasing a target of 204, Starc unleashed fury from ball one. In a whirlwind 12-minute demolition job, he ripped apart the batting lineup, returning surreal figures of 3.5 overs, 1 maiden, 11 runs, 5 wickets. The West Indies were skittled for 27, their lowest-ever total and the second-lowest in Test history.
This collapse, orchestrated with clinical ferocity, saw six wickets fall for just 3 runs in 19 balls, with Starc grabbing five of them. The only resistance was a boundary from Alzarri Joseph before Starc fittingly ended the carnage himself — sealing the 176-run victory and a 3-0 series whitewash.
Starc’s record-breaking five-for reaffirmed not just his personal brilliance but also Australia’s dominance in the pace department. In a match laced with milestones and milestones broken, Starc stood tall — a modern giant rewriting history at a venue steeped in it.
The long-standing Toshack record stood untouched through generations of legendary pacers — until Mitchell Starc, with fire in his veins and history on his side, tore through it like only the greats can.
