Mitchell Starc closing in on Glenn McGrath’s incredible World Cup wickets record

Nathan Lyon wants Mitch Starc’s new nickname of FLOAT (fastest left-armer of all time) to stick. With an incredible World Cup record held by Glenn McGrath now in sight, it just might.

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The ‘GOAT’ has nicknamed Mitchell Starc ‘The FLOAT’ — but it’s a label that might need updating after Australia’s battle with South Africa on Saturday night.

Starc’s 5/26 against New Zealand thrust him to 24 wickets in the tournament, which is just two behind Glenn McGrath’s World Cup record of 26 (2007).

But Starc’s earlier five-wicket haul — against West Indies last month — saw the left-armer become the fastest bowler in ODI history to crack 150 scalps (77 games).

Mitchell Starc is closing in on Glenn McGrath’s record for most wickets in a single World Cup.

Moments after Starc achieved the feat, beating Saqlain Mushtaq (78 games), Trent Boult (81) and Brett Lee (82) to the milestone, he let Test great Nathan Lyon know at a drinks break.

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“He broke the record for the fastest wickets, and he actually told me he as soon as he took it that he was the only one who knew at the time,” Lyon said.

“I was running the drinks and he said, ‘There you go, I took it’ and then I ran off.

“I wasn’t playing and I had to run off the field and had a bit of time to think about it. So that’s when (physio) Dave Beakley and I came up with the nickname. Hopefully it will stick.

“Get that out there please — FLOAT — fastest leftie of all-time. He’s pretty determined not to get it out there, so if you guys (media) could write FLOAT, that’d be great.”

West Indies captain Jason Holder succumbed to a short ball to give Starc the record and he now needs just three more wickets in this World Cup to overtake ‘Pigeon’ McGrath.

Starc’s bag against the Kiwis lifted him to No. 6 on the all-time World Cup wicket-takers list, with 46 dismissals in just 16 games.

“The way Starcy goes about his business … bowling thunderbolts is pretty special. I believe he’s the best bowler in the world,” Lyon said.

Starc’s pace and directness makes him a constant wicket threat at the top and end of an innings.

A slower ball removed Kiwi captain Kane Williamson while Starc sent down a crazy 45 dot balls in his 58-ball spell.

The Aussies delivered 172 dots on the used wicket as Lord’s with New Zealand’s run-rate sinking to just 3.6 in the 86-run smashing.

Kiwi star Boult took a hat-trick in the 50th over of Australia’s innings to jag 4/51, but even he was left in awe of the rival left-armer.

“Starc is six-foot-seven, bowls 157km and swings it both ways,” Boult said.

“I tried to (face him) — he’s a classy bowler. I thought he was used very nicely in terms of short spells and coming in and (being) intimidating and aggressive.

“He’s had a stellar performance so far.”

Starc bowled at the poles at the death, ripping through New Zealand’s tail to secure a third five-wicket haul in a World Cup.

“That fuller length and that straighter line for me, attacking those stumps, is part of my game plan,” he said.