Published: Aug 03, 2015, 02:43 PM (IST)
Edited: Aug 05, 2015, 10:19 AM (IST)
The moment Mitchell Starc sent New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum back to the pavilion in the very first over of the 2015 ICC World Cup final it was game over for the co-hosts. Man of the Tournament, 22 wickets, a wicket every 17.4 balls — everything speaks volumes about the potential about the six-and-a-half feet tall pacer. The three balls he bowled to McCullum on March 29 in front of the largest (official) crowd assembled in a cricket ground showed that the man has the confidence, temperament and the skill to become one of the best swing bowlers of the game. However, he is not the consistent Starc when he is handed the red ball. Sakshi Gupta says Australia want their pacer to deliver in order to win the 4th Ashes Test.
After Ryan Harris’s sudden retirement prior to the 2015 Ashes, the responsibility on the Mitchells — Johnson and Starc — to lead the young bowling attack had doubled. While the 33-year old Johnson has been doing his bit, it was Starc who has been a disappointment with his undisciplined bowling. READ: Under-fire Michael Clarke needs expert help to battle himself out of danger
Starc bagged the first wicket during the second Test at Lord’s, the Australians won thanks to an excellent bowling combination between Johnson and Mitchell Marsh. They shared 10 of the 20 England wickets. Chasing 509, England were bundled out for a paltry 103. Even Australia’s bowling coach Craig McDermott credited Marsh for giving Johnson the required push by troubling the opponents with some of his 140 kmph deliveries.
When a team finds a man who can stably bowl about 15 overs an innings, bowlers like Johnson can be restricted to just 5-over spells so that they can go all out with their pace. Marsh bagged the crucial wickets of set batsmen Ben Stokes and Alastair Cook in the first innings, thereby putting brakes on the English rearguard act. The wickets certainly played a huge role in the visitors’ only win in the ongoing Ashes. READ: James Anderson’s side strain reminiscent of Glenn McGrath’s twisted ankle in Ashes 2005
Australia, trailing 1-2 in the series, can make a comeback provided Starc starts contributing. Perhaps it is just a bad patch. With Johnson, Man of the series in the 2013-14 Ashes Down Under, aging, it is very important for Starc to take over the former’s role. James Anderson’s wicketless match at Lord’s turned out to be a horror outing for England: the hosts were beaten by a massive total of 405 runs. However, Anderson returned in the next Test with a lethal spell, claiming seven wickets to bring back the home side on top with a 2-1 lead in the series. The supporting role played by Steven Finn, who returned to the Test side after a long gap, saw the best coming out of the 33-year old Anderson.
In order to get back the correct length and line, Starc needs serious practice. With seniors in the likes of Johnson, McDermott and Harris, Starc should not hesitate in acquiring suitable advice regarding his bowling. READ: Stuart Broad backs Mark Wood as James Anderson’s replacement
While English batsmen have faced no niggle against Starc, they hardly had any answers to Trent Boult’s bowling — a man similar to Starc in terms of bowling style. Boult had shared the tag of highest wicket-taker in the 2015 World Cup with Starc, but missed out on the Man of the Series award, probably because Australia won the World Cup. After the big event, New Zealand toured England . Although the visitors ended on the losing side in the first Test, Boult grabbed a career-best 9 for 164 in the same Test. His effort did not go in vain as the Black Caps settled scores by sealing the Test with a 199-run victory in the next game, where Boult again managed four more. READ– Australia’s top order needs to be ‘little bit tougher’ to come back in The Ashes 2015: Michael di Venuto
With the fourth Ashes Test around the corner, Australia will bank on Starc to get back his combination of accuracy, attack and pace that forces the batsmen to think twice. If the visitors want to try their luck in defending the urn, the Trent Bridge Test is going to be crucial for them.
(Sakshi Gupta is a sports fanatic, enthusiastic and the mantra of her life is “Do only that what you enjoy”. She can be followed on Twitter @sakshi2929)
