Starc nears milestone

Australia have leap-frogged a rival on the path to automatic qualification for the 2023 Cricket World Cup, with Mitchell Starc spearheading the team's assault.

With three wickets in Australia's win over Zimbabwe, Starc is one wicket away from becoming the sixth bowler to reach 200 men's ODI wickets in green and gold.

The win takes the Aussies to 90 points on the Super League table, overtaking the West Indies (88 points) and moving to seventh place. The top eight teams at the end of the competition go straight to India for the 2023 World Cup, with the bottom five moving to the Cricket World Cup Qualifier, held in Zimbabwe next year.

They have now taken a 2-0 unassailable lead in the three-match series.

A win over Zimbabwe in the third ODI would likely move the Australians into sixth, while Zimbabwe will feature in the Qualifier on home soil.

Most ODI wickets for Australia

Glenn McGrath (1993-2007): 380 wickets.

Brett Lee (2000-2012): 380 wickets.

Shane Warne (1993-2003): 291 wickets.

Mitchell Johnson (2005-2015): 239 wickets.

Craig McDermott (1985-1995): 203 wickets. Mitchell Starc (2010-2022): 199 wickets*