Ricky Ponting feels that Yashasvi Jaiswal’s cheeky remark during the Perth Test could have led to Mitchell Starc’s revival during the second match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Adelaide. During the first match of the series, Jaiswal scored a brilliant 161 in the second innings which set up India’s win. During the knock, there was a moment when the young opener would have an exchange with Starc.
Jaiswal said that the Aussie pacer was ‘too slow’ and Starc would respond with a smile. However, in the Adelaide Test, the pacer would have his revenge as he dismissed Jaiswal for a golden duck with the first ball of the match and ended up registering his best career figures of 6 for 48 in the first innings. Speaking on the recent episode of the ICC review, Ponting suggested that the exchange with the Indian opener could have given extra motivation for Starc.
“He’s actually a pretty level-headed guy, Mitchell Starc. He doesn’t get flustered too much, even you see when he’s bowling now,” Ponting said.
“And if one of the batters does happen to say something, he generally responds with a little smile on his face.
“But I think that smile on his face might be just a bit of a cover for the fire that’s burning inside. Look, he bowled beautifully in Adelaide didn’t he.”
Ponting hails Starc’s adaptability
Ponting also praised Starc for changing his bowling style in recent times to prolong his career. The former Aussie skipper claimed that Starc isn’t slowing down, and it is just the way he is bowling at the moment.
“He certainly deserves high praise. I mean, he’s probably in the last couple of years been better than he’s ever been,” Ponting noted.
“And the reason that I say that is I think he’s a more consistent bowler now than he’s ever been before, yet his pace is still about the same as it always was. I mean, he could bowl over 150km/h probably a few years ago and he’s in absolute prime now. He’s sort of operating in the mid-140s, but his consistency, the way he’s starting spells is really good now as well.
“I was really impressed by how he started his first spell in Perth and then the way he started his first spell in Adelaide was obviously unbelievably good. So his pink-ball record speaks for itself and I think talking to some of the players as well, I think the reason why his pink ball record is so good is I think the pink ball actually performs very similar to the white ball.
“And we know what sort of record that Mitchell Starc has got with a white-ball. That might be a part of the reason why.”
“He’s not slowing down. That’s just not pace that he’s bowling. That’s the way that he’s bowling. So looking at him, (Josh) Hazelwood and Cummins, they could be around for another couple of years together yet.”
Starc has picked up 11 wickets so far in 2 Tests in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
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