When Starc is on song, it is almost impossible to see him through, “you know he’s gonna get but you can’t do anything about it”. After picking up three wickets in the first ODI, Starc once again brought havoc for Indian batters, sending five of them back to pavillion while bowling only 8 overs.
Not so long ago, he has stiches on his fingers, had to be in three weeks rehabilitation process then he made a comeback in third test which wasn’t personally remarkably but his time won the match.
Mitchell Starc is ODIs is whole lot of different menace, averaging only 21.78 with the ball. Sounds amazing, right! Here’s another thing, last time he went wicketless in an ODI match was back in 2020.
Having played only 109 matches, he has equalled Brett Lee’s record of nine fifers in ODIs for Australia. Only Waqar Younis and Muttiah Muralidharan have more fifers but let’s see how Starc is still miles ahead of them.
Waqar Younis, the legendary Pakistani pacer, has 13 five wicket hauls in 262 ODIs while Muralidharan, one of the greatest spinners, has 10 five wickets haul in 350 ODI matches. Surpassing both of them in time period, Mitchell Starc has 9 five wicket hauls in mere 109 matches which is a staggering stat.
In season 2022-23, Starc has picked 13 wickets in 4 matches, averaging less than 15. “My plan hasn’t changed for 13 years: bowl full, hit the stumps, try and swing it,” Starc said after Australia’s 10-wicket win in Vizag.
“That’s been my role for a long time, to try and get wickets up front in the Powerplay. At times that means I’m probably more expensive, but I’m trying to bring in all modes of dismissal.
“So it’s certainly not a new game plan these last two games. When you’ve got a powerhouse batting unit that India do have, if you can take wickets in the Powerplay it means we sort of control the game in some respects, which is what we did today.”
First ODI: India won by five wickets
Second ODI: Australia won by 10 wickets
Third ODI: Wednesday March 22, Chennai
Starc was at his best in Vizag, sending back to pavillion Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Mohammad Siraj and KL Rahul. Four of them are top order batters.
Now, both teams will move to Chennai for third and final ODI which will be a series decider.