Starc currently has 433 Test scalps to his credit from 105 matches.
Veteran Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc is on the verge of breaking into the all-time top 10 Test wicket-takers' charts during Australia's upcoming series against Bangladesh, starting August 13 in Darwin.
However, the 36-year-old isn’t focusing on it, declaring that he wouldn’t “get too far ahead” while also adding that his name being taken in the same breath as Kapil Dev and Dale Steyn was “cool and very humbling”.
Starc currently has 433 Test scalps to his credit from 105 matches. He needs 1 wicket to equal Kapil Dev (434) and 6 wickets to equal Dale Steyn (439). Only Shane Warne, Nathan Lyon, and Glenn McGrath have taken more Test wickets than him for Australia.
“It means I've played a bit,” Starc told Australian Associated Press when asked about the prospect of surpassing the aforementioned duo. “It is cool and very humbling to be spoken about it with those guys. But that stuff doesn't mean a whole lot while you're still playing. You don't get too far ahead," he added.
Age has not slowed down Starc as he continues clocking fast speeds and bowling long spells for Australia. He has claimed 164 wickets in 41 Tests since 2022 and achieved a career-best bowling average of 17.32 in the year 2025, including a Player-of-the-Series performance in Australia’s 4-1 Ashes triumph.
The left-arm quick attributed his recent success to a clearer mindset, staying level-headed, and moving past good or bad moments quickly.
“You're never as good or bad as you think or other people think you are,” Starc said. "I still moan and whinge about anything that goes wrong with or feels wrong. Even heading into [the last] summer, it didn't feel like it clicked until the day before the Ashes.
"But I think what's been a feature of our group and led by Ron [Head Coach Andrew McDonald] and Pat, is that whether it's a good day, bad day, good over, bad spell, it's done. Move on. What can you change in real time?”
Continuous learning, adding the wobble seam in his arsenal, and maintaining consistency have also contributed to Starc’s success.
“When you're 36 and you've been around for 16 years, you'd like to think you've improved or got better at something,” he said.
“You're also around that long because you're able to develop and learn and improve. And you add in a few things like the wobble seam, consistency and other things. I have a pretty clear mindset on it all."