Starc's 6/72 at Newlands Equals Steyn's 29 International Five-Wicket Hauls
Mitchell Starc took 6 for 72 for Australia against South Africa in the third Test at Newlands, Cape Town, on Tuesday, October 27. It was his 20th five-wicket haul in Test cricket. It also took his career total to 29 five-wicket hauls in international cricket, which equals the tally of South Africa's Dale Steyn.
Starc's 29 are made up of 20 in Tests and nine in ODIs. His ninth ODI five-for was 5 for 53 against India in Visakhapatnam in 2023. He has not taken a five-wicket haul in T20Is.
The day began badly for Australia. They won the toss and chose to bowl, but South African openers Marques Ackerman and Aiden Markram put on 158 for the first wicket. Ackerman made 95 off 94 balls. South Africa were 140 without loss at lunch, and they were 203 for 1 at one stage.
Starc then turned the day around. He took two key wickets in the second session. He removed David Bedingham for 50 and had Wiaan Mulder caught behind for a duck. Australia still had work to do, but they now had momentum.
The big damage came with the second new ball in the 81st over. Starc took four wickets in six balls. He had Ryan Rickelton lbw for 42 and bowled Marco Jansen for 52. He then bowled Gerald Coetzee for a duck and trapped Kagiso Rabada lbw, also for a duck. South Africa lost their last four wickets for just five runs and were all out for 329. Starc finished with 6 for 72 from 16.3 overs. His figures are far better than Shane Warne's 6 for 161 at the ground.
Starc has had a big year. In August he took five wickets in the first session against Bangladesh at Mackay. He finished with 10 for 51 in the match and passed Steyn's tally of 439 Test wickets to enter the all-time top ten. In July 2025 he took the fastest five-wicket haul in men's Test history, 6 for 9 against West Indies at Sabina Park, reaching five wickets in just 15 balls.
The Test is the decider in a series that is level at 1-1. Australia won the first Test in Durban by 214 runs. South Africa won the second in Gqeberha by an innings and 31 runs. The series is part of the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle. South Africa are without fast bowler Anrich Nortje, who was ruled out with a groin injury. The Test runs until Saturday, October 31.