Published: Feb 03, 2019, 01:19 PM (IST)
Edited: Feb 03, 2019, 01:18 PM (IST)
Mitchell Starc has been under-fire regarding his lean run with the ball for some time now. From taking away the new-ball duties to dropping him for the Test squad, suggestions have been flying thick and fast.
However, he must have alleviated the threat to his place in the Australia squad to some extent with some hostile spell of fast bowling on Day 2 of the ongoing Test against Sri Lanka in Canberra. Starc took 5/54 as the tourists were bowled out for 215 in reply to Australia’s first innings 534/5.
Starc, 29, admitted his spot isn’t safe while at the same time also saying he isn’t bothered by the “outside noise” regarding his dip in form.
“I don’t think your spot is ever safe,” Starc was quoted as saying by Cricket.com.au on Sunday. “I know I haven’t been at my best, I don’t need to listen to all the outside noise to know that. I’ve played enough cricket now to know when I’m at my best and when I’m not.”
Australia coach Justin Langer and captain Tim Paine have been quite vocal in their defense of the left-arm speedster all through the home summer that has seen Starc take 20 wickets in six Tests so far.
“The change room has been great, not just with myself but for everyone throughout the summer. It’s been a very close-knit group. I think that’s one thing this group can be really proud of, is how we’ve stuck by one another through the good times and the tougher times and it’s happened again this week, we saw three fantastic efforts on day one and day two and to get around the boys the last couple of nights has been fantastic, to see the smiles on their faces and for us as team to celebrate their success as well,” he said.
Starc has been focussing on bowling as fast as he can to get something out of the flat Manuka Oval track. “For me yesterday [Saturday] it was just trying to run in and feel smooth, bowl fast and try and create something there on a flat wicket. I’ll just try to put all the noise to the side for the last couple of weeks and just focus on playing a role for the team,” he said.
