Mitchell Starc will become second Australian fast bowler to reach 100 Tests in final clash with West Indies

Mitchell Starc has been labelled a “warrior” by his captain Pat Cummins as the veteran quick prepares for his 100th Test match, becoming just the second Australian fast bowler to reach the milestone.

Starc, 35, is also on the verge of breaking the 400-wicket barrier after his second innings haul of 3-28 against the West Indies in Grenada spearheaded Australia’s second Test win that sealed the series.

Australian captain Cummins was effusive in his post-match praise for Starc, who will join Glenn McGrath (124) in the 100-Test club in the third and final match of the series in Jamaica.

It will be Starc’s 293rd match for his country across all formats, and his 395 Test wickets, so far, puts him well clear in fourth spot all time for Australia.

Cummins, who has moved up to eighth on the same list through 70 Tests and could hit 500 should he also push on to 100, said he couldn’t “fathom” the possibility of still bowling as fast as Starc does after so many matches.

“I mean it’s a huge effort as a fast bowler as well and he’s still bowling at 145km/h at the end of that game,” Cummins said after the second-Test victory.

“And I can’t fathom playing a hundred games and keeping that kind of speed.

“He’s just a warrior, just turns up every week and wants to play no matter what, just cracks on and is such a low-fuss kind of guy.

“All things going well, it’ll be a great week for him next week we’ll kind of celebrate.

“It’s a pretty small crew that have played 100 Tests. He’s the second fast bowler (for Australia), it’s really rare, really tough to do, so proud of him.”

Of the 81 players to reach 100 Tests, only 11, including Starc, have been fast bowlers and Glenn McGrath is the only other Australian.

Cummins said the Australians would “come up with something” to recognise Starc’s achievement.

“Normally come with a couple of presents or something, a bit of memorabilia or something for him to remember it by,” he said.

The reduced bowling workload through the second Test, with Starc only bowling 21 overs across each innings, could mean no changes for the final game.

“Give it a couple days and see how everyone pulls up,” Cummins said.

“But I think we’re all probably around 25 overs or something from the match, which is really light. It’s kind of another big tick”

FAST BOWLERS TO PLAY 100 TESTS

James Anderson (Eng)

Stuart Broad (Eng)

Glenn McGrath (Aus)

Courtney Walsh (WI)

Wasim Akram (Pak)

Shaun Pollock (SAf)

Ishant Sharma (Ind)

Makhaya Ntini (SAf)

Chaminda Vaas (SL)

Tim Southee (NZ)