Mitchell Starc has etched his name in Test cricket history by claiming the best strike-rate in a calendar year among bowlers with at least 50 wickets. The Australian left-armer’s dominant 2025 performance, with 55 wickets at a staggering strike-rate of 28.3 balls per wicket, tops the elite list ahead of legends like Waqar Younis and Dale Steyn.
Mitchell Starc’s record-breaking 2025: 55 wickets at 28.3 S.R.
Starc, the Australian pace spearhead, delivered a career-defining year in 2025, capturing 55 wickets across 11 Tests at an average of 17.32 and a strike-rate of 28.3 balls per dismissal. This blistering efficiency marks the tightest bowling strike-rate in a calendar year for any bowler taking 50-plus wickets in Tests. Starc picked up three five-wicket hauls, with his best figures of 7/58 underscoring his ability to dismantle the opposite team’s batting unit on lively pitches.
MITCH STARC SEEEEEEED! What a ball to dismiss Ben Stokes. #Ashes | #PlayoftheDay | @nrmainsurance pic.twitter.com/PehDst540x
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 21, 2025
Playing a pivotal role in Australia’s Ashes campaign and home series against India, Starc combined raw pace with late swing to devastating effect. His economy of under 3.7 runs per over highlighted his control, making him the benchmark for modern fast bowling excellence in the longest format.
Waqar Younis’ 1993 rampage: 55 wickets in just 7 Tests
Pakistan’s Waqar Younis follows closely with a strike-rate of 29.5 from 1993, where he snared 55 wickets in only seven Tests at an average of 15.23. Renowned for his lethal toe-crushing yorkers, Waqar claimed six five-fors, peaking with 7/91. That year, he terrorized batsmen across England and the West Indies, forming a fearsome duo with Wasim Akram.
Waqar’s brevity – needing fewer matches than most—amplifies his feat, as Pakistan swept series with his reverse swing mastery. His performance remains a gold standard for express pace in subcontinental conditions.
Jasprit Bumrah’s 2024 masterclass: 71 wickets at 30.1 S.R.
https://x.com/cricketcomau/status/1991737829794410602India’s Jasprit Bumrah rewrote records in 2024, amassing 71 wickets in 13 Tests with a strike-rate of 30.1 and an unmatched average of 14.92 among this group. Five five-wicket hauls, including 6/45, propelled India to series triumphs in Australia and England. Bumrah’s unique seam-up action and ability to generate bounce on flat decks set him apart.
His workload across grueling tours showcased endurance, blending precision with aggression to become India’s strike weapon. At 30.1 balls per wicket, Bumrah’s efficiency rivals the greats despite flatter pitches in modern eras.
Gus Atkinson’s rise: England’s 2024 star with 52 wickets
Emerging English quick Gus Atkinson burst onto the scene in 2024, securing 52 wickets in 11 Tests at a strike-rate of 35.6 and average of 22.15. His highlight was a mesmerizing 7/45, complemented by three five-fors. Atkinson’s raw speed and skid made him England’s find during a transitional phase post-James Anderson.
Debuting amid high expectations, Atkinson adapted seamlessly to overseas challenges, troubling Australia and India. His rapid ascent signals a bright future for English pace bowling.
Dale Steyn’s iconic 2008: 74 wickets at 35.8 S.R.
South Africa’s Dale Steyn capped the top five with 74 wickets in 13 Tests during 2008, boasting a strike-rate of 35.8 and average of 20.01. Five five-wicket hauls, led by 6/72, powered South Africa to the No. 1 Test ranking. Steyn’s ferocious pace and relentless accuracy overwhelmed England, India, and Bangladesh.
That year defined Steyn’s peak, blending hostility with skill to become one of cricket’s most feared fast bowlers. His haul remains the highest wickets in this elite strike-rate bracket.
| Player | Year | Wickets | Matches | Bowling
Average |
Strike Rate | 5 Wicket Hauls | Best Bowling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Starc (AUS) | 2025 | 55 | 11 | 17.32 | 28.3 | 3 | 7/58 |
| Waqar Younis (PAK) | 1993 | 55 | 07 | 15.23 | 29.5 | 6 | 7/91 |
| Jasprit Bumrah (IND) | 2024 | 71 | 13 | 14.92 | 30.1 | 5 | 6/45 |
| Gus Atkinson (ENG) | 2024 | 52 | 11 | 22.15 | 35.6 | 3 | 7/45 |
| Dale Steyn (SA) | 2008 | 74 | 13 | 20.01 | 35.8 | 5 | 6/72 |
Also READ: Records and stats – Least balls faced by Australia across both innings in Tests since 1900
Why strike-rate defines bowling greatness?
Strike-rate measures wickets per balls bowled, revealing a bowler’s ability to strike frequently – a vital metric in bowler-friendly eras. These five transcend conditions, from Waqar’s swing to Starc’s seam movement. Modern analytics favour such efficiency over volume.
Starc’s 2025 surge, amid Australia’s pace revival, edges out predecessors by dismissing batsmen every 28.3 balls. Bumrah’s 71 wickets highlight volume with bite, while Steyn’s 74 set the volume bar.
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