Like fine wine, Mitchell Starc only gets deadlier with age

The late 30s are often considered a time of reflection in every sportsperson’s life. After being at the top of one’s game through one's 20s, as soon as someone crosses 35, the inevitable countdown to retirement begins.

While the fire in the belly still burns bright, the performances often go on a downward curve, making the clamour around retirement even more intense. Some succumb to the realities of ageing on sports performances, but a few defy the norms and continue to be the ‘point of difference’ for their respective teams.

On Day 1 of the third Test at Newlands, Cape Town, star Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc experienced both realities. The left-arm speedster kept running in over after over only to be mercilessly thrashed by Aiden Markram and Marques Ackerman, who cared little about his reputation.

An unfamiliar start

The carnage began from his second over itself as Starc was taken for boundaries through some exquisite drives from Aiden Markram’s willow. Just when it looked like it couldn’t get any worse for the veteran speedster, Travis Head ended up dropping Markram on 39 at cover.

To rub salt into the wounds, Marques Ackerman clobbered him for four consecutive boundaries as Starc strayed wide towards off-side like a rookie. The South African openers didn’t care one bit about his stature in world cricket, who had scalped just six wickets across the first two Test matches. 

The dwindling returns even made many call for his axe to make way for Scott Boland in the playing XI. Mitchell Starc’s figures read 0/59 after ten overs, as one of the most formidable bowlers in the world looked nothing more than a bowling machine in the middle.

A wicket after 12 overs

After a long wait of 12 overs, Starc’s first wicket finally arrived as he bounced out a well-set David Bedingham, who only managed to hook him towards Josh Hazlewood at fine leg. Two balls later, Wiaan Mulder became his second victim, falling prey to another vicious bouncer.

With finally some success under his belt, Starc later returned with his fiercest weapon: a brand new shining bright red cherry and a storm besieged the Proteas batting lineup. With his favourite weapon in hand, the speedster charged in at a well-set Ryan Rickelton (42) and Marco Jansen (52), who were eyeing to survive the final hour of the day's play unscathed.

Red cherry dances to Starc's tunes

Much to their dismay, they were up against a rampaging Starc, who smelled blood under overcast skies. After delivering three short balls, Starc surprised Rickelton with his trademark inswinging yorker, which thudded into his pads and ended a 95-run stand for the seventh wicket.

Two balls later, Rickelton’s partner, Marco Jansen (52), was on his way back to the pavilion courtesy of the most perfect yorker in the cricketing world, which just kissed the bottom of his off stump, a sight reminiscent of Starc’s similar delivery to Ben Stokes during the ODI World Cup 2019.

3 minutes of extraordinary pace bowling by Mitchell Starc. Take a bow 🙇‍♂️ https://t.co/Sopph7SPa8

— Troll cricket unlimitedd (@TUnlimitedd) October 27, 2026

It took just three more deliveries for the Australian to complete one of the most astonishing clean-up jobs as stumps went flying again for Gerald Coetzee, while Kagiso Rabada was plumb in front with another corker that was fired straight into his stumps.

In no time, South Africa went from 327/6 to 329 all out as Starc scalped four wickets from the last six deliveries to finish with figures of 6/72 (16.3 overs).

Insatiable hunger of a champion bowler

It was another remarkable bowling display from the left-arm speedster, who continues to get better with age. Starc is the leading wicket-taker in Test cricket since 2020 with 217 scalps from 54 matches, a testament to remarkable consistency while competing with the top bowlers in the world.

Since 2025, he has scalped 84 Test wickets, the most in the world, from 17 matches at an astonishing average of 18.09 with best figures of 7/58. He's also the leading wicket-taker in Tests among left-arm pacers with 457 scalps from 110 matches (210 innings).

Just three months away from turning 37, Starc continues to run in with full intensity, hungry to turn matches for his team. Even after winning almost every trophy in world cricket, the fire inside Starc still burns bright and has enough light in it to guide Australia to another Ashes as well as a World Cup victory in 2027.