Starc record eclipses Boland hat-trick on ‘bonkers’ day

Scott Bailey | July 15, 2025

Mitchell Starc has written his way into the record books on a “bonkers” day of Test cricket that included a Scott Boland hat-trick and Australia bowling West Indies out for 27.

On a historic afternoon in Jamaica, Australia’s quicks ran riot to wrap up a 176-run win and claim a 3-0 series sweep in the fight for the Frank Worrell Trophy.

Chasing 204 for victory, West Indies lasted just 87 balls and only marginally eclipsed the lowest ever Test total of 26 by New Zealand in 1955.

The score marked Australia’s best-ever bowling display in a Test, while West Indies’ total was the lowest of any team in 70 years.

Boland became only the 10th Australian to claim a Test hat-trick, but it was Starc who ripped the heart out of the hosts with figures of 6-9.

The left-armer took three wickets in the first over of West Indies’ second innings and claimed five in his first 15 balls to at one stage have them 5-7.

Playing in his 100th Test, Starc also became the fourth Australian to reach the 400-wicket milestone, joining greats Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Nathan Lyon.

“A three-wicket maiden in the first over of a Test innings is just bonkers,” captain Pat Cummins said.

“He was on fire. A lot of the chat leading into this week is how resilient you need to be and professional to play 100 Tests.

“But I think that’s the Starcy I always remember playing alongside. He can tear a game open by himself in the matter of a couple of overs.”

Starc’s 15-ball five-wicket haul marked the fastest by any bowler in Test history, eclipsing the previous record of 19 from Ernie Toshack, Stuart Broad and Boland.

The 35-year-old also became the second man to take three wickets in the opening over of a Test innings, striking when he had John Campbell caught behind first ball.

He then trapped Kevlon Anderson when the right-hander left a ball that tailed in at him, before bowling Brandon King with the last delivery of the over.

Starc’s assault continued with his 400th and 401st Test scalps at the start of his third over, both Mikyle Louis and Shai Hope gone lbw.

At that point Starc had figures of 5-2, with the only runs off him coming via the outside edge of Hope’s bat and through the slips.

Starc could have had a sixth victim in his opening five-over spell before tea, had Sam Konstas not grassed a chance at third slip to remove Alzarri Joseph.

But that opened the door for Boland to take Australia’s first Test hat-trick since Peter Siddle in 2010.

Called in for Lyon, the Victorian edged off Justin Greaves, had Shamar Joseph lbw and bowled Jomel Warrican in consecutive balls.

“I was a bit nervous bowling that last ball,” Boland admitted.

“It’s an amazing feeling. Starcy set us up there, and I have never been involved in a game where we bowled a team out for 27.”

In all, West Indies’ seven ducks set an innings record for the most in the 148-year history of Test cricket.

The six runs their top-six batsmen contributed also halves the previous low mark of 12.

And had it not been for a Konstas misfield at the end, the Windies could have tied New Zealand’s record-low total.

Australia had appeared in danger of dropping the Test when bowled out for 121 in their second dig, courtesy of 5-27 from Alzarri Joseph.

“It’s heartbreaking to be in a position like that, where we could have won the game and come out and have that poor batting display,” West Indies captain Roston Chase said.