The milestone that puts Starc on path to elite

Mitchell Starc entered this Caribbean tri-series unsure how much of an impact he would have on his return from surgery, but has quickly found his way into the ODI record-books.

And with Australia now a confirmed starter in the tri-series final on Monday morning (AEST), more history beckons for the left-arm stump destroyer.

Starc's three wickets in Australia's six-wicket victory against the West Indies in Barbados on Wednesday morning came in his 50th one-day international.

Quick Single: Starc a 'different animal'

It took his career tally to 98, and earned him the accolade as one-day international cricket's most prolific wicket-taker in the first 50 career ODIs.

Starc's haul helped him leap above New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond, who terrorised Australian batting line-ups in the early 21st century before succumbing to back injuries and forging a successful career as a bowling coach.

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His impressive haul puts him ahead of the likes of Australia's Brett Lee (91 wickets), Pakistan swing bowling master Waqar Younis (89 wickets) and West Indian firebrand Curtly Ambrose (86 wickets).

India's Mohammad Shami, who sits equal seventh, has taken his 87 wickets in just 47 matches and could possibly leapfrog Starc's milestone when they play a five-match ODI series against New Zealand later this year.

Most successful bowlers in first 50 ODIs

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Starc also needs just two more dismissals in Monday's tri-series final to break Saqlain Mushtaq's 19-year-old record of 53 games as the fastest bowler to the 100-wicket milestone.

As an aside, one-day cricket's most prolific wicket-taker, Sri Lanka spinner Muthiah Muralidaran, had taken just 56 wickets after his first 50 ODI matches. He finished his career with 534 wickets under his belt from 350 matches.

Former New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum, who famously was bowled in the first over of the 2015 World Cup final by Starc, believes the Australian is destined for a place in the pantheon of fast bowling greats.

"Mitchell Starc in the World Cup final, he was too good for me," McCullum told cricket.com.au. "You can't be too proud to admit when someone's better than you: that's the beauty of the game.

"There have been guys who have had an impact for a short periods of time and that's why I can't wait to see Mitchell Starc's development over the next few years," McCullum said.

"Because if he keeps doing what he's done for a period of time, then that puts him in that category (amongst the best bowlers in the world)."

"A guy like Mitchell Johnson did it for 13 years, (as did) Brett Lee in his pomp, Jason Gillespie, Glenn McGrath.

"Mitchell Starc's got huge skills, and I'm not being disrespectful when I say it, but I think those others guys have had a bigger impact for longer."

"When he's bowling as well as what he can, he's a complete world-beater," McCullum said. "The challenge for Mitch, which we've seen over the last year or so, is that consistency.

"But I think he's gotten bigger, he's gotten faster and I think he's understood his skills a little more over the last little while.

"So the next couple of years will be really interesting, especially to see how he comes back from this injury.

"It's good for the game when he's playing and at his best, because there aren't too many commodities like him."

Now confirmed as the most potent fast-bowler in world cricket, Starc has been forced to take a conservative approach in this series, his first following a six-month absence due to ankle and foot surgery.

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The left-armer has now played four matches on tour – including this week's washout against South Africa where the heavens opened after Starc's first over – and is surely a certain starter for Monday's final where Australia will meet the winner of Saturday morning's contest between South Africa and the Windies. 

Starc has taken a combined 8-139 in three Australian victories. He was rested from the other two games, which both ended in defeat.

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The 26-year-old hasn't shied away from his frustration at being held back on this tour, but acknowledged his fate was always in the hands of Australia's coaching and medical staff.

"It's part of the plan unfortunately," he said in Barbados this week.

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"Being fit this time around and watching from the side can be a little bit frustrating. But I've got to look at the bigger picture and there's a lot to come in the next six months so I'll stick by the plan and stick by what the medicos tell me to do.

"I don't have too much say in it. I want to play every game

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"The bigger picture (is) we have three Tests against Sri Lanka, a one-day series that follows that, a one-day series in South Africa and then we've got the home summer.

"It's feeling really good but I've just got to manage that at this point in time. That's for the medicos to do and me to sit back, unfortunately."