Birthday special: Mitchell Starc – Five most memorable spells of his career

Australia’s speedster Mitchell Starc has been the pillar of the team’s bowling line-up for quite some time. In his glorious international career of 11 years so far, the left-arm seamer has represented Australia in 61 Test matches scalping a whopping 255 wickets along with featuring in 96 ODIs and 35 T20 Internationals picking 184 and 47 wickets respectively. As Mitchell Starc turns 31, let’s flip the pages and take a look at 5 memorable spells bowled by the pacer.

6-28 vs New Zealand in February 2015 (ODI)

Mitchell Starc had impressed the who’s who of the cricket fraternity with his disciplined bowling against New Zealand in a league game during the 2015 World Cup at Eden Park in Auckland. Chasing the target of 152 posted by Australia on the board, New Zealand had to face Starc who went all guns blazing against their feeble batting line-up. Starc picked a whopping six wickets while conceding just 28 runs in his nine overs. However, his efforts went in vain as New Zealand won the game by 1 wicket.

6-43 vs India in January 2015 (ODI)

India, England and Australia were up against each other in an ODI tri-series in January 2015. India had a torrid start to their campaign courtesy Mitchell Starc. Playing their first game against Australia, India were startled by Starc. The left-arm pacer had bowled the spell of his life by picking 6 wickets while giving just 43 runs in 10 overs. His heroics resulted in India scoring 267 runs in 50 overs and losing the game by 4 wickets.

5-44 vs Sri Lanka in August 2016 (Test)

Mitchell Starc had bowled one of the best spells of his Test career during the second Test of the three-match series in Sri Lanka in 2016 in a losing cause. Batting first, Sri Lanka was looking forward to putting a comprehensive total on the board but their hopes were quashed by Starc who had breathed fire with the ball. Starch picked as many as five wickets in the first innings while giving away just 44 runs. His parsimonious spell had helped the visitors in stopping SL to a below-par total of 281 runs.

“BOWLED ‘IM” ?

On his birthday, watch Mitchell Starc dish out some jaw-dropping yorkers ?? pic.twitter.com/QqcwTDEOAN

— ICC (@ICC) January 30, 2021

6-50 vs Sri Lanka in August 2016 (Test)

After bowling a spell of 5/44 in the first innings, Mitchell Starc returned again in the third innings as he produced another magical spell of his Test career. The 31-year-old performed even better as he scalped six wickets and completely destroyed the opposition batting order. The figures of 6 for 50 are still considered as the best ever spell bowled by Starc in the purest format of the game. However, his heroics couldn’t help Australia as they lost the game by a whopping 229 runs.

3-11 vs Pakistan in September 2012 (T20)

Australia and Pakistan were up against each other in a dead-rubber T20 International at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 10, 2012. Australia had already lost the series by 0-2 but they were playing for pride in the last game. Batting first, Australia scored 168 runs on the board on the back of 59 runs by David Warner. In reply, Pakistan were bundled out for a paltry total of 74 runs as Mitchell Starc rattled the opposition batsmen with his raw pace and consistency. The left-arm quick was the pick of the bowler for the Men in Yellow as he scalped three wickets while conceding just 11 runs from his 3.1 overs.