Australia’s Mitchell Starc is seen on day one of the first Test match of the series between Australia and India at the Perth Stadium on November 22, 2024. | Photo credit: Getty Images
Senior Australian pacer Mitchell Starc on Friday (Nov 22, 2024) played down talk of India batsman KL Rahul’s controversial catch behind dismissal on the first day of the opening Test here, saying it was a “regulation wicket”.
Rahul’s dismissal sparked controversy with former players from the country questioning the third umpire’s decision to overrule the off-field official’s call.
After on-field umpire Richard Kettleborough ruled in Rahul’s favor following Australia’s appeal, the home team used DRS to challenge the decision.
Third referee Richard Illingworth, however, overturned the call despite not having the benefit of a split screen view which would have given him a clearer picture of whether Starc’s delivery actually grazed the bat or snicko responded to the hit on the pads.
“It got overturned obviously, but I thought it was regulation, the sound was made, at that time, I thought it was just a regulation wicket,” said Starc in a press conference.
Starc (2/14), who took the opening wicket of the series when he dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal, will continue on six not out alongside wicketkeeper Alex Carey, who was unbeaten on 19 on Saturday, with Australia at 67/7 after India made it. 150 in the first innings.
A staggering 17 wickets fell on the opening day, a record on Australian soil, but the leading pacer believes the batting will get easier in the second half and they just need to live with the new Kookaburra ball.
“I thought there was some really good bowling today. There was obviously enough on the wicket, and maybe it was a hardball wicket,” Starc said.
“When the ball starts getting softer towards the back end of the Indian innings, it’s not going to work. (There’s) still enough, but it’s not like the new hardball,” he said.
“So, I think that’s what the team has to do in the second inning. If you can go through the test period, then it’s easier. That said, the outfield is quite slow, so it probably made running a bit hard to come by. This is probably the slowest outfield which we have seen in the west for a long time,” he said.
While Starc provided the first breakthrough, fellow pace bowler Josh Hazlewood proved more successful on the day, returning with figures of 4/29 in 13 overs before Jasprit Bumrah (4/17 in 10 overs) was yet to feature again. extraordinary skills.
Starc also doesn’t think batting conditions are getting tougher in Australia.
“How many ways can you beat the cat? Bowlers are allowed to bowl a good ball,” he said.
“When there are a lot of runs, it’s like, ‘Oh, the bowlers bowled badly. When there are wickets, the wickets are difficult’. (But) you are allowed to play good balls and maybe credit should be given to the team and the bowlers,” he said.
“Obviously, there’s a lot on the wicket when you put it in the right area, and work hard to bat, but like I said, you’re allowed to play good balls, and there’s a lot of that now,” he said. .
At stumps, Australia trailed by 83 runs thanks to a remarkable comeback by a Bumrah-led Indian team, which looked unlikely after being all out for a low score and weeks after an unprecedented 0-3 in New Zealand at home. .
Starc said he was not surprised by India’s comeback.
“It’s a very different series, different conditions, different team, so, yeah, it’s fun to watch, the series … I thought we bowled pretty well and maybe scored below par, and they’ve come out and matches us with the ball, so, no, I won’t say I’m surprised, because we know the skill they have in the team with the bat and the ball, and they showed that with the ball today,” Starc pointed out.
Published – November 23, 2024 05:16 IST
