Mitchell Starc He has etched his name in Test cricket history by claiming the best strike rate among bowlers who have taken at least 50 wickets in a calendar year. The Australian left-hander’s impressive performance in 2025, with 55 wickets at a whopping strike rate of 28.3 balls per wicket, has him topping the elite list ahead of stalwarts like Waqar Younis and Dale Steyn.
Mitchell Starc’s record-breaking 2025: 55 wickets at 28.3 SR
Australian fast bowler Starc delivered a career-defining year in 2025, taking 55 wickets in 11 Test matches at an average of 17.32 and a strike rate of 28.3 balls per out. This burst marks the strongest bowling strike-rate in a calendar year for any bowler taking more than 50 wickets in efficiency tests. Starc took three five-wicket hauls, with his best figures of 7/58, underscoring his ability to dismantle the opposition’s batting unit on lively pitches.
Mitch Starc saw it! Which ball to bowl out Ben Stokes? #ash , #PlayoftheDay , @nrmainsurance pic.twitter.com/PehDst540x
– cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) 21 November 2025
Playing a key role in Australia’s Ashes campaign and the home series against India, Starc combined late swing with raw pace to devastating effect. His economy of less than 3.7 runs per over highlighted his control, making him the benchmark for modern fast bowling excellence in the longest format.
Waqar Younis’s havoc of 1993: 55 wickets in just 7 Tests
Pakistan’s Waqar Younis is second with a strike rate of 29.5 dating back to 1993, where he took 55 wickets at an average of 15.23 in just seven Test matches. Famous for his lethal toe-crushing yorkers, Waqar took six five-wicket hauls, top-scoring with 7/91. That year, he terrorized batsmen in England and the West Indies, forming a formidable pair with Wasim Akram.
Waqar’s brevity – requiring fewer matches than most – adds to his achievement, as Pakistan won the series with his reverse swing mastery. Their performance remains a gold standard for express speed in subcontinental conditions.
Jasprit Bumrah’s 2024 masterclass: 71 wickets at 30.1 SR
https://x.com/cricketcomau/status/1991737829794410602india Jasprit Bumrah Rewrote the record in 2024, taking 71 wickets in 13 Test matches with a strike-rate of 30.1 and an average of 14.92, unmatched among this group. His feat of taking five five-wicket hauls, including 6/45, led India to series wins in Australia and England. Bumrah’s unique seam-up action and ability to generate bounce on flat decks sets him apart.
His workload in tough tours showed patience, mixing accuracy with aggression and becoming India’s strike weapon. At 30.1 balls per wicket, Bumrah’s efficiency rivals the greats, despite flatter pitches in the modern era.
The rise of Gus Atkinson: England’s 2024 star with 52 wickets
Rising English fast bowler Gus Atkinson took 52 wickets in 11 Test matches in 2024 at a strike-rate of 35.6 and an average of 22.15. His highlight was a mesmerizing 7/45, complemented by three five-fors. Atkinson’s raw pace and skids made him England’s discovery during a transitional phase following James Anderson.
Making his debut amid high expectations, Atkinson faced overseas challenges with ease, upsetting Australia and India. His rapid rise indicates a bright future for English fast bowling.
Dale Steyn’s iconic 2008: 74 wickets at 35.8 sr
South Africa’s Dale Steyn finished in the top five with 74 wickets in 13 Test matches during 2008 at a strike rate of 35.8 and an average of 20.01. Leading the way with 6/72 and taking five wickets, South Africa reached the No. 1 Test ranking. Steyn’s blistering pace and relentless accuracy overwhelmed England, India and Bangladesh.
That year defined the peak of Steyn, who blended hostility with skill to become one of cricket’s most dangerous fast bowlers. His record is the most wickets in this specific strike-rate bracket.
| player | Year | Wicket | Matchbox | bowling
average |
strike rate | 5 wicket hall | best bowling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Starc (Australia) | 2025 | 55 | 11 | 17.32 | 28.3 | 3 | 7/58 |
| Waqar Younis (Pakistan) | 1993 | 55 | 07 | 15.23 | 29.5 | 6 | 7/91 |
| Jasprit Bumrah (India) | 2024 | 71 | 13 | 14.92 | 30.1 | 5 | 6/45 |
| Gus Atkinson (England) | 2024 | 52 | 11 | 22.15 | 35.6 | 3 | 7/45 |
| Dale Steyn (South Africa) | 2008 | 74 | 13 | 20.01 | 35.8 | 5 | 6/72 |
Also read: Records and statistics – Fewest balls faced by Australia in both innings of a Test since 1900
Why does strike-rate define bowling greatness?
Strike-rate measures wickets bowled per ball, gauging a bowler’s ability to strike repeatedly – an important metric in a bowler-friendly era. From Waqar’s swing to Starc’s seam movement, these are the five conditions to overcome. Modern analysis supports such efficiency over quantity.
Starc’s 2025 surge comes amid Australia’s pace revival, surpassing his predecessors by dismissing batsmen every 28.3 balls. Bumrah’s 71 wickets highlighted volume with byte, while Steyn’s 74 set the volume bar.
Also read: Abhinav Mukund reveals his best Test playing XI for 2025; Temba Bavuma has been made captain