Mitchell Starc Shines in Ashes Series with Stellar Performances
Starc's Impact in the Ashes
Kerry O'Keeffe, a former Australian spinner, praised Mitchell Starc's outstanding bowling during the ongoing Ashes series against England, remarking that the seasoned player could take wickets even with a 'soggy tomato'.
Starc has been in remarkable form throughout the Ashes, having taken six wickets in the first innings and making significant contributions on day three of the second innings, where he claimed two vital wickets, including that of Joe Root and wicketkeeper Jamie Smith. This left England struggling at 54 runs behind with only four wickets remaining.
O'Keeffe's Praise for Starc
During a commentary session on FOX Cricket, O'Keeffe expressed his admiration, stating, 'He gives 100 percent every time. What a golden summer he is having. He could get wickets with a soggy tomato.'
As Starc approaches his 36th birthday, he continues to impress with both bat and ball, scoring 77 runs in the first innings, which helped Australia establish a 177-run lead.
'What a warrior. Incredible,' O'Keeffe continued. 'At 35, he is playing the best cricket of his life, and his bowling statistics have not declined. His pace remains intact, and his strike rate is improving.'
'It's rare for a fast bowler to peak at 35, but Mitchell Starc might be an exception.' He also noted Starc's consistent batting technique, highlighting his ability to execute powerful drives. 'He has been an exceptional player across all formats and deserves more recognition as a true warrior.'
Starc's Record in the Ashes
In the current Ashes series, Starc leads the wicket tally with 18 wickets across two Tests, boasting an impressive average of 13.11 and two five-wicket hauls. His best performance came in the first Test at Perth, where he recorded figures of 7/58.
Additionally, during the Brisbane Test, he surpassed the legendary Wasim Akram's record of 414 wickets, becoming the most successful left-arm pacer in Test cricket history.
Australia's Dominance at The Gabba
On day three of the second Ashes Test at The Gabba, Australia solidified their dominance by extending their first-innings lead significantly. Their bowlers then made crucial breakthroughs under the floodlights, leaving England at 134/6, still trailing by 43 runs in their second innings.
Starc's Batting Brilliance
Starting the day at 378/6, with a 44-run lead over England's first innings total of 334, Australia's lower order, spearheaded by Starc, capitalized on their advantageous position.
Starc, who began the day unbeaten, scored 77 runs, contributing to Australia's first innings total of 511. He formed a crucial 75-run partnership with Scott Boland, who added 21 runs, while wicketkeeper Alex Carey chipped in with a valuable 63.
Brydon Carse was the standout bowler for England, finishing with figures of 4/152. The remaining wickets fell quickly after the partnership, as England's bowlers struggled during the morning session, leading to a substantial 177-run first-innings lead for Australia.
England's Struggles in the Second Innings
In their pursuit of the 177-run deficit under challenging day-night conditions, England's openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett started aggressively, quickly reducing the deficit by 48 runs in just 7.3 overs.
However, the Australian bowlers soon found their rhythm, with Scott Boland claiming the first wicket by dismissing Ben Duckett for 15.
Key breakthroughs followed as Michael Neser took out both Ollie Pope (26) and the set opener Zak Crawley (44). Despite maintaining a decent run rate, the Australian bowlers consistently took wickets at crucial moments. The day concluded with Starc dismissing England's wicketkeeper Jamie Smith for 4.
Earlier, Joe Root (15) and Harry Brook (15) fell victim to Starc and Boland, respectively, marking a significant shift in the momentum of England's innings.
By the end of the day, Starc, Neser, and Boland each had two wickets to their names.