Between India and Finals: Mitchell Starc

Rewinding three months; “He is too soft”, said Legend Warne, now the whole world says “He is too hot to handle". Mitchell Starc, is the Giant between India and Title clash. During the World Cup Starc gets a wicket every 10.2 runs and every 16.7 balls indicates he is one hell of a bowler! Taking him light, could be worst ever decision you made in life!

Mitchell Starc is a modern day Wasim Akram, Starc is someone who is constantly hitting high 140’s; On the money more often than not; He doesn't give any freebies combined with his lethal Yorkers and ability to swing the ball both ways at pace makes him a nightmare. Mitchell Starc is the player of the tournament in my perspective.

Nevertheless he is not a mystery bowler nor someone who is absolutely unplayable. Not sure how many have noticed this, there is always a pattern in his wickets. Lets analyze little deeper.

Wickets on first Spell: During Starc’s first spell he bowls fast and ball will leave the right handed batsman, in return batsman will flirt outside off and will walk back to the pavilion either caught at slips or by keeper. Starc sets up his wicket with some genuine deliveries nipping in to the right hander and surprise the batsman with the one leaving away, batsman will be tempted to see that as a scoring opportunity in turn lose their wicket. Top order batsman has to curb their instincts to flirt with the deliveries on the corridor of uncertainty outside off;  If batting team negotiate Starc’s first spell it would be a nice platform for a run fest.

Wickets on Death: Death bowling nowadays became little predictable, its either going to be short or full or slow (Can be easily predicted by the field placements). Hang on, You cannot manipulate Starc that easily! Starc delivers some fast, lethal, reverse swinging yorkers on the money. He comes around the wicket and with his natural angle nips the ball in to the right hander and his reverse swing takes it away(Deadly combination) and the batsman tempt to play an expansive shot or misread the line of the ball and lose their stumps or help its way by a cute french cut towards the wood-work. Its school-boy cricket to say the least, every coaching manual will say to keep the bat close to the pad. Footwork is important; all his wickets will be of a pattern, ball sneaks between bat and pad and lit the LED stumps. Tail-enders are not expected to counter Starc burst; Starc is an expert in cleaning up the tail, Its batsman responsibility to protect tail from Starc.

India became a victim of being too cautious. We were resigned to the fact that Starc was absolutely unplayable and targeted other bowlers more than they should have been. Clarke did really well to save his overs and keep Starc fear on the Indian batsman. Reviewing the match overall , I would say Indian bowlers did reasonably well to restrict Australia to 328, at one stage it could be easily 350 or 360 when Smith and Finch were playing. India lost to a better team on the day!

Since 1983, the team which beats Australia and moves to next stage of the tournament wins the coveted trophy. It’s either Australia or the team which beats Australia triumphs. This history will remain intact!

If our batsman did not go for fishing outside off or if they did not play school boy cricket and maintain bat-pad relationship;  India could have become the third team to win back to back World cups; Second team to win three or more World cups and MSD would have became first ever captain to hold three world Cups!

We did not give it back, One bad day in office!
Well played Champs!

We are always with you!
Wonderful World Cup campaign!

Future Ahead!

Until then, Have a good one!