Dec 4 (Reuters) - Australia's Mitchell Starc claimed his third first-over wicket of the Ashes series on Thursday, dismissing England opener Ben Duckett for a golden duck on day one of the second test in Brisbane en route to a six-wicket haul.
Left-hander Duckett nicked a catch to Marnus Labuschagne in the slips off the last ball of the first over in the day-night match at the Gabba.
The 35-year-old was Australia's primary weapon against the England batters, as his tally of test wickets reached 418, overtaking Pakistan's Wasim Akram, who claimed 414 victims in before retiring over two decades ago.
"I'll reflect on that later. Wasim remains at the pinnacle of left-armers," Starc said.
Starc further cemented his reputation as a menace with the pink ball, having taken 81 wickets in his previous 14 day-night tests, but was at a loss to explain why.
"I get asked all the time, but I still don't know. It is what it is. I still think it's like a white ball," he said.
"Once that ball goes soft it is not the easiest thing to score with and it's certainly not the easiest to bowl with.
"Proper test cricket, albeit a pink ball. A solid's day test cricket."
Starc bowled 19 overs, conceding 71 runs for his six wickets, as England reached 325-9 after 74 overs, aided by Joe Root's unbeaten 135.
Australia, who hold the Ashes, lead the series 1-0.
(Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne and Chiranjit Ojha in Bengaluru; Editing by Ed Osmond)
