Bowlers with Most Wickets in First Over of Test Match

Mitchell Starc

Mitchell Starc is an Australian left-arm fast bowler renowned for his pace, swing, and key contributions to Australia’s successes across formats, including World Cups and Ashes series. Mitchell Starc has taken a wicket in the first over of an innings for the 26th time in his career, marking a remarkable milestone in his fast bowling achievements.

First over of the innings

Mitchell Starc has gotten a batsman out in the first over of a Test match 26 times. The latest was when he got England’s Ben Duckett out on the last ball of his opening over during the Ashes Test at the Gabba on December 4, 2025. The ball moved away after bouncing, and Marnus Labuschagne caught the edge at first slip. This achievement matches Jimmy Anderson’s record for the eighth time in a Test match’s first over. It is also Starc’s third time doing this in the current Ashes series, after dismissing Zak Crawley twice in Perth.

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Top Bowlers with Most Wickets in First Over of Test Match

Bowler Wickets Matches Nationality
Mitchell Starc 26 102 Australia
James Anderson 19 129 England
Kemar Roach 10 85 West Indies

Career Highlights

Mitchell Starc has taken the most wickets in the very first over of Test matches since he started playing, with 26 wickets. He is ahead of James Anderson, who has 19, and Kemar Roach, who has 10. In his last four Test innings, Starc took six wickets in the first over. This includes an impressive 3-0 start against the West Indies in early 2025, where he got John Campbell, Kevlon Anderson, and Brandon King out.

Ashes Context

These early wickets give Australia a strong start in the day-night Test match. England is having a hard time at the beginning because both opening batsmen got out quickly. Starc’s bowling with the new ball is still very effective against England’s batsmen Crawley and Duckett, who have scored very few runs in three Ashes innings.

Also Read: Players with the most ODI centuries at different venues

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His skill in quickly breaking the opponents’ batting order has helped his team win many matches, including test games and one-day matches. This shows why he is one of the best fast bowlers in world cricket.

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Divyansh Sharma is a dedicated sports journalist who has been passionately covering the cricket category for SportsBigNews since 2024. With a deep understanding of the game and a keen eye for emerging stories, Divyansh brings insightful analysis, timely updates, and compelling narratives to cricket fans around the world. Whether it’s match previews, player profiles, or behind-the-scenes developments, his writing reflects both expertise and enthusiasm for the gentleman’s game.