Starc's stunning series by the numbers

Paceman Mitchell Starc has made history in the third Test in Sri Lanka, with the left-armer's 24 wickets the most ever by any Australian fast bowler in a three-Test series.

Quick Single: Starc soars to 100-wicket milestone

With six wickets in the first Test, a career-best 11 in the second and seven in the third, Starc breaks Dennis Lillee's 37-year-old mark of 23 wickets in a three-Test series, achieved against England in the home summer of 1979-80. The overall Australian record for a three-Test series is the 27 spinner Shane Warne took against Pakistan in 2002.

Starc's remarkable return also sees him top the list of the most successful visiting pacemen for a three-Test series in Asia, surpassing another legend in New Zealand's Sir Richard Hadlee, who took 23 wickets in Sri Lanka in 1984. The most wickets by any paceman in a three-Test series in Asia is the 29 Pakistan's Waqar Younis took against New Zealand in 1990.

Additionally, Starc's 24 wickets have come at a better strike-rate (25.80) than any bowler – pace or spin – to have taken 20 wickets in a series in Asia.

The 26-year-old's haul is also the equal second most by any Australian quick in a series in Asia, level with Geoff Dymock (24 wickets against India in 1979) and behind Allan Davidson (29 wickets against India in 1959), but those two performances came in five-match series.

Making his feat all the more impressive is that this is Starc's first Test series in Sri Lanka and his first since returning from foot and ankle problems that had kept him sidelined for seven months, and out of the five-day game since last November.

Quick Single: Sizzling Starc claims historic haul 

Starc claimed his 100th Test wicket in the second match of the series during his 11-wicket haul – the first 10-wicket plus return of his career – and he is quickly building an imposing record in whites to match the stunning pace he has set in ODI colours.

After that second match, Australia's interim bowling coach, South African legend Allan Donald, rated Starc's performance as the best he'd seen from a paceman in Test cricket.

"Singlehandedly ... I think that's probably the best I've seen," Donald told Ten Sports on the morning of the opening day of the third Test in Colombo.

"(In terms of) sustainability and his pace was right up.

"I think his last wicket, the 11th wicket, was 148kph late in the day. Swinging it both ways.

"That's got to go down as probably the best I've seen.

"And a great credit to his stamina, his skill, and just being relentless all day.

"He's got the world at his feet, there's no doubt.

"I know that he's a very humble bloke and he's got that greatness written all over him.

"It's just a matter of keeping him fit and healthy for years to come."

Most wickets in a three-Test series by an Australian paceman

• Mitchell Starc (v SL, 2016): 24 wickets at 15.16. SR: 25.8. BBI: 6-50. BBM: 11-94
• Dennis Lillee (v Eng, 1979): 23 wickets at 16.86. SR: 40.4. BBI: 6-60. BBM: 11-138
• Mitchell Johnson (v SA, 2009): 22 wickets at 17.36. SR: 34.4. BBI: 7-68. BBM: 12-127
• Charlie Turner (v Eng, 1888): 21 wickets at 12.42. SR: 31.2. BBI: 6-112. BBM: 10-63
• Dennis Lillee (v Pak, 1976): 21 wickets at 25.71. SR: 49.6. BBI: 6-82. BBM: 10-135

Most wickets by an Australian paceman in a series in Asia

• Alan Davidson (v Ind, 1959): 29 wickets at 14.86 in five matches. SR: 50.6. BBI: 7-93. BBM: 12-124
• Mitchell Starc (v SL, 2016): 24 wickets at 15.16 in three matches. SR: 25.8. BBI: 6-50. BBM: 11-94
• Geoff Dymock (v Ind, 1979): 24 wickets at 24.16 in five matches. SR: 53.1. BBI: 7-67. BBM: 12-166
• Graham McKenzie (v Ind, 1969): 21 wickets at 21.00 in five matches. SR: 63.4. BBI: 6-67. BBM: 7-101
• Jason Gillespie (v Ind, 2004): 20 wickets at 16.15 in four matches. SR: 39.8. BBI: 5-56. BBM: 9-80

Most wickets in a three-match series by a visiting paceman in Asia

• Mitchell Starc (Aus v SL, 2016): 24 wickets at 15.16. SR: 25.8. BBI: 6-50. BBM: 11-94
• Sir Richard Hadlee (NZ v SL, 1984): 23 wickets at 10.00. SR: 30.7. BBI: 5-29 BBM: 10-102
• Brett Schultz (SA v SL, 1993): 20 wickets at 16.30. SR: 37.2. BBI: 5-48 BBM: 9-106
• Sir Richard Hadlee (NZ v India, 1988): 18 wickets at 14.00. SR: 33.6. BBI: 6-49 BBM: 10-88
• Kenny Benjamin (WI v India, 1994): 17 wickets at 28.82. SR: 37.2. BBI: 5-65 BBM: 8-171