Mitchell Starc is having a remarkable outing in the 2025–26 Ashes series against England. With the ball, he has already dominated the headlines. However, on Saturday (December 6), during Day 3 of the second Test at The Gabba in Brisbane, he stunned everyone with the bat as well. The Australian left-arm pacer went into tea unbeaten on 46 runs off 95 balls, showcasing patience, resilience, and an improved defensive game.
Interestingly, during this innings, Mitchell Starc reached a major career milestone, becoming only the ninth Australian to score 1000 runs in the World Test Championship (WTC). He needed 43 runs entering this Test match to achieve the feat and reached the historic landmark in the 98th over of Australia’s innings.
A Rare All-Round Double
Moreover, Starc joined an elite group. He has now become only the second Australian, after Pat Cummins, to achieve the rare double of 1000 WTC runs and 100 WTC wickets. Globally, only five players have ever accomplished this extraordinary landmark.
Players to Score 1000 Runs & Take 100 Wickets in WTC:
| Player | Country | Matches | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ravichandran Ashwin | India | 41 | 1142 | 195 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | India | 48 | 2610 | 156 |
| Pat Cummins | Australia | 51 | 1020 | 215 |
| Chris Woakes | England | 34 | 1009 | 110 |
| Mitchell Starc | Australia | 51* | 1003* | 207* |
Starc’s achievement becomes even more impressive considering his primary role in the Australian side is still that of a strike bowler. His batting improvement in the lower order has played a crucial role for the team in many challenging moments.
Australia’s Top WTC Run-Getters
Here is where Starc stands among top Australian batters in the World Test Championship era:
| Player | Matches | Runs | Average | Best Score | 100/50 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Smith | 57* | 4358 | 49.52 | 211 | 13/20 |
| Marnus Labuschagne | 55* | 4350 | 48.33 | 215 | 11/24 |
| Travis Head | 54* | 3477 | 40.90 | 175 | 9/15 |
| Usman Khawaja | 44 | 3290 | 44.45 | 232 | 8/13 |
| David Warner | 38 | 2423 | 37.27 | 335* | 5/8 |
| Alex Carey | 45* | 2099 | 34.98 | 156 | 2/12 |
| Cameron Green | 34* | 1634 | 34.04 | 174* | 2/7 |
| Pat Cummins | 51 | 1020 | 15.45 | 64* | 0/1 |
| Mitchell Starc | 51* | 1003* | 18.92 | 58* | 0/2 |
Chasing Another Big Milestone
Furthermore, the race for the most wickets in the WTC continues to intensify. Currently, Nathan Lyon leads with 219 wickets in 54 matches. However, Starc is rapidly closing in. After his impressive six-wicket haul in England’s first innings of this Test, Starc now sits at 207 wickets*. If he manages to take nine more, he will surpass Cummins and become Australia’s second-highest wicket-taker in the WTC.
A Special Phase in Starc’s Career
Overall, this moment marks a new chapter in the career of Mitchell Starc. His consistency with the ball and his growing contribution with the bat underlines his impact in modern Test cricket. And as the Ashes series continues, the left-arm pacer may still break more records.
One thing is clear: Mitchell Starc is not just a bowler anymore — he is a genuine game-changer in the World Test Championship era.
