Latest news with #MitchellStarc
News18
2 days ago
- Sport
- News18
'Sachin Was Not Able To Cope...': Ponting Recalls Moment When He Realised Starc Is 'Extra Special'
Last Updated: Mitchell Starc's remarkable 6/9 spell in his 100th Test against West Indies prompted Ricky Ponting to recall Starc's 2012 spell to Tendulkar. Starc also reached 400 Test wickets. Mitchell Starc, the left-arm fast-bowling spearhead, delivered a remarkable spell in his 100th Test against the West Indies. This performance prompted legendary Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting to reminisce about Starc's memorable spell to Sachin Tendulkar in Perth in 2012, which hinted at his destined greatness. In the pink-ball Test in Jamaica, Starc claimed a career-best five-wicket haul in just 15 balls, ending with figures of 6/9 as the West Indies were bowled out for 27, the second-lowest total in Test cricket history. Ponting recalled how Starc, in only his third Test, kept Tendulkar under control by targeting his shoulder during the second innings of the WACA Test in 2012. 'I remember, he was bowling a spell to Sachin Tendulkar and was able to sort of bowl a short one, get up under Sachin's armpit and Sachin just sort of knocked one into short leg on the leg side. 'And when you could see that sort of pace and bounce and have someone like Sachin not be able to cope with it, I think that was the reassurance for all of us that there was probably something extra special there for Mitchell Starc," said Ponting on The ICC Review show. 'He's got better and better. Like skill-wise and mentally, I think he understands his body and game probably better than ever, especially in the last couple of years. 'He's added a couple of different skills, maybe in the last two or three years, that don't seem like massive things, but he's sort of incorporated that three-quarters seam, that wobble seam delivery that's just made his in-swing a little bit more potent and given him more variation. 'A lot of that physical stuff has never been questioned with him. It's been spoken about a fair bit this week. He's made a lot of decisions to give himself the best opportunity for a long-term international career. When I say decisions, I mean by standing out of different IPL tournaments at different times when he's had bigger international commitments coming up," elaborated Ponting. He concluded by noting the small but meaningful routines Starc has developed over the years to keep himself focused while bowling. 'When I talk about working out his own game, you've probably seen it and heard about it in the past, but he wears a bit of tape on his, I think it's his right wrist, his non-bowling hand. 'And he's just got a couple of words, which is just a reminder for him of what he has to do and how he has to think about it mentally. So those little things, I think, are things you learn along the way with more experience. 'He's physically going along as well as ever. He's always had those little niggles like all fast bowlers do, but he finds a way to push through them. He plays games out with niggles, and that's why he's standing there now with 400 Test wickets next to his name," he said. With IANS Inputs view comments First Published: July 18, 2025, 14:29 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Have England turned nasty in pursuit of the Ashes?
Either side of the Atlantic Ocean, a couple of hectic Test matches at Lord's and Sabina Park offered plenty of clues for what is shaping up to be an Ashes tussle for the ages in Australia this summer. While Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland atomised the West Indies in Jamaica, Ben Stokes' England team won a classic against India at Lord's, in a game that was marked not only by plenty of tension but also an elevated level of spitefulness. That aggression, England's players have revealed, was to a certain degree premeditated. No one used the words 'headbutt the line', like Nathan Lyon famously said Australia would ahead of the 2017 Ashes, but it was patently clear that under Stokes and Brendon McCullum, England are now willing to be nasty if it means lifting the two bilateral trophies they care about most. England last won a Test match on Australian soil in January 2011. Here are the key factors at play looking ahead to this summer's Ashes. The return of Jofra Archer Of course, it helps the verbal jousting if it can be backed up with the kind of speed and hostility afforded England by the return of Jofra Archer. Alongside Mark Wood, Gus Atkinson and company, Archer offers a fast-bowling threat that has the potential to trouble Australia: something underlined by how Shamar and Alzarri Joseph got the Australians, young players and old alike, hopping around in the Caribbean. Loading Among 15 redundancies at Cricket Australia this week was the exit of Alex Kountouris, the governing body's head of sports science. Over a long and distinguished career, Kountouris was one of the leading figures in devising Australia's world-leading approach to keeping its best fast bowlers fit. Nearly a decade after they started playing regularly together, the durability of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Starc, and their splendid back-up Boland has been the greatest competitive advantage for the Test side.
The Age
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Age
Have England turned nasty in pursuit of the Ashes?
Either side of the Atlantic Ocean, a couple of hectic Test matches at Lord's and Sabina Park offered plenty of clues for what is shaping up to be an Ashes tussle for the ages in Australia this summer. While Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland atomised the West Indies in Jamaica, Ben Stokes' England team won a classic against India at Lord's, in a game that was marked not only by plenty of tension but also an elevated level of spitefulness. That aggression, England's players have revealed, was to a certain degree premeditated. No one used the words 'headbutt the line', like Nathan Lyon famously said Australia would ahead of the 2017 Ashes, but it was patently clear that under Stokes and Brendon McCullum, England are now willing to be nasty if it means lifting the two bilateral trophies they care about most. England last won a Test match on Australian soil in January 2011. Here are the key factors at play looking ahead to this summer's Ashes. The return of Jofra Archer Of course, it helps the verbal jousting if it can be backed up with the kind of speed and hostility afforded England by the return of Jofra Archer. Alongside Mark Wood, Gus Atkinson and company, Archer offers a fast-bowling threat that has the potential to trouble Australia: something underlined by how Shamar and Alzarri Joseph got the Australians, young players and old alike, hopping around in the Caribbean. Loading Among 15 redundancies at Cricket Australia this week was the exit of Alex Kountouris, the governing body's head of sports science. Over a long and distinguished career, Kountouris was one of the leading figures in devising Australia's world-leading approach to keeping its best fast bowlers fit. Nearly a decade after they started playing regularly together, the durability of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Starc, and their splendid back-up Boland has been the greatest competitive advantage for the Test side.
West Australian
3 days ago
- Sport
- West Australian
MITCHELL JOHNSON: Sam Konstas needs to play domestic cricket to learn the grind of Test arena
By any measure, Australia's 3–0 whitewash of the West Indies in the Test series was ruthless. But beyond the scoreboard, the series revealed two sharply contrasting narratives: one of a nation still anchored by world-class fast bowling, and the other still searching desperately for batters to support what is, at times, a promising bowling unit. Let's start with the obvious. Mitchell Starc's 100th Test was pure theatre — 6 for 9 in a 14-over innings where the West Indies were dismantled for just 27 runs, the second-lowest total in Test history. It was pace, swing, control and menace, all at once. Five wickets in 15 deliveries? That's not just dominance — that's legacy-building. But even amid the demolition, questions linger — especially for Australia. This series didn't solve their concerns; it only made them clearer. The pace bowling attack — Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Scott Boland — remains world-class, delivering vintage spells almost on command. But the top order continues to look brittle. Usman Khawaja's form is inconsistent. Cam Green is still a work in progress. He's shown grit and determination, but No. 3 may not be his spot. Nathan McSweeney is pushing the door down with runs and reliability at State level and in Australia A matches. He's doing exactly what selectors ask: scoring runs and being consistent. Then there's 19-year-old Sam Konstas. Thrust into a high-pressure opener's role, he looked overawed. Averaging just 8.33 for the series, and dropping multiple catches, he has potential but also showed how far he has to go. The talent may be there, but the readiness isn't. Konstas needs time in the domestic grind to sharpen his game and gain clarity around his technique and temperament. Let's be honest — Australia didn't just win because of their bowling brilliance. They also benefited from a West Indies side that underperformed badly, both with the bat and in the field. Dropped catches, missed chances, and soft dismissals undid whatever good their bowlers had worked hard to build. It was a lean series with the bat for both teams, and pitch conditions certainly played a role. But the third Test, under lights with the pink ball swinging under the evening sky, exposed more than conditions ever could. The West Indies' shot selection crumbled, their defensive technique fell apart, and the mental resilience simply wasn't there. The series average of 14.95 runs per wicket says it all — not just poor, but historically so. And that's the heartbreak. This is the same region that gave cricket the brilliance of Holding, Ambrose, Richards, and Lara. This series, the Windies rarely went much beyond day three. There were glimpses of fight — particularly from Shamar and Alzarri Joseph — but the edge, the belief, the unity that earned them that remarkable win in Australia just 18 months ago was nowhere to be found with the bat. For Australia, this tour was meant to be a tune-up before the Ashes and a chance to test new talent. But what did they truly learn? That their bowlers can steamroll fragile line-ups? Yes. That their top three still lacks cohesion and certainty? Definitely. England will be a far sterner challenge. So yes, the Frank Worrell Trophy is back in the cabinet, and Starc has crossed 400 Test wickets — a remarkable achievement. But the series didn't feel like a contest. It felt like a mismatch. For the selectors, the job isn't done. The top order still needs reshaping. Green, Travis Head, Alex Carey and Beau Webster all chipped in this series but no one truly imposed themselves with the bat. If not for Starc's record-breaking spell in Kingston along with Boland's impressive hat-trick, we'd likely be talking about narrow wins built on bowling rescue missions. If Test cricket is to have a future in the Caribbean, it needs more than memories of the past. It needs investment, structure, and belief. In the end, Australia delivered what was expected, a series win but mostly thanks to the bowlers.
United News of India
3 days ago
- Sport
- United News of India
Ponting puts forward Australia top order for Ashes
Canberra, July 17 (UNI) Despite a 3-0 Test series win away in the Caribbean, Australia's batters did little to silence the critics who flagged the side's frailties earlier in the year, instead leaning on the side's irrepressible bowling attack. Watching on as the likes of Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland and Josh Hazlewood dismantled the West Indies for just 27 in the final innings to cap off a barnstorming tour with the ball, the Australians only passed 300 once in the series, with the bulk of the runs made further down the order. Having kept a close eye on the series, Ponting put forward the top three he believes will front up for the first Ashes Test and in Australia's first home stand of the new World Test Championship cycle. He also said he'd 'back in' young opener Sam Konstas, who has been the subject of great debate among Australian cricket fans and media. 'The (batters) that they're talking about the last couple of weeks in particular, have been (Sam) Konstas and (Usman) Khawaja, and then there was some talk about Cameron Green, if he was a long term No.3 three or not,' Ponting began, in conversation with Sanjana Ganesan in the latest edition of The ICC Review. '(Green's) second innings in the West Indies (in the last Test) might have just put some of that to bed. As tough as those conditions were to bat for as long as he did in trying conditions he might have silenced a few of those critics. 'I think with where they're at, I think the Ashes line-up is going to be like it is right now. I think that's what they're going to be starting with, and you keep your fingers crossed and hope that those guys can get the job done at the start.' Ponting acknowledges the spots are far from locked in, though with just an Australia A series against Sri Lanka and four Sheffield Shield rounds before the pivotal series, there is limited opportunity for others to squeeze their way in. 'Nathan McSweeney, who started the Australian summer against India last year, he's made some runs in one of those (Sri Lanka A) games. Matt Renshaw has made a lot of runs in the white ball format as well in those games.' 'I don't think there's going to be anyone else outside of the names that we've heard for the last couple of years that will be spoken about again. McSweeney is the obvious one to go back to sooner rather than later. 'If they (Australia) get two or three Test matches into the Ashes and things aren't going well, the longer you go in a series, obviously the harder it is to change, and it's not like they're jumping up and down, batsmen left, right and centre making runs all over the place either. 'The start of the Sheffield Shield season will be an interesting one for some of those names that I've mentioned there, and I'll throw another name in that I think is a highly talented Australian batsman, that's Jason Sangha. 'I think he's someone whose name will probably come up at some stage as well, but there's just not many games now, not many opportunities to be able to get yourself and get your name up in front of the selectors.' Much of the attention has been focused on opener Konstas, who outside of a stunning Test debut half-century against Jasprit Bumrah and India's bowling attack in last year's Boxing Day Test, has struggled for runs. The teenager averages just 16.30 in his first 10 Test innings, however Ponting believes it has been a tougher initiation than it perhaps could have been. 'I read some really interesting quotes or a story written by (Australian journalist) Robert Craddock about Sam Konstas, how the Australians sort of tried to protect him from what they thought was going to be a really difficult tour of Sri Lanka. 'They left him out there hoping to bring him in in the Caribbean where things might have been a little bit easier. Well, it's been the opposite. It's been the exact opposite of that. 'As it turned out, the attack and the wickets in Sri Lanka were good batting wickets and a really poor attack. And the wickets that we've got in the Caribbean have been hard for everybody to bat on. I look at that last result where the West Indies have been bowled out for 27. 'That's just not down to high quality bowling. That's down to the surface and the ball and all sorts of things.' In Konstas' bid to build his game, Ponting has noticed technical corrections, which could lead to long-term benefits, albeit sacrificing short-term success. 'Sam's always going to have, like every batter that is finding their way at international level, people sit back and try and pick holes in your technique when you're trying to find your own way at international level. 'Now he's always been someone that's been talked about potentially having an issue with (the ball) coming back in, particularly on the front foot, and we saw in the Caribbean a couple of instances there of lbws and chop-ons but we also saw the other side of it where when he tries to correct that and probably stay a little bit more leg-side of the ball. That's when the outside edge of the bat comes into play and he nicked a couple as well like he did in the second innings of that first Test match. 'I'm not going to make any really harsh judgment calls on Sam yet because it was hard work for every batter in that series, there's no doubt about it. '(I) think they have to stick with him for a period of time and help him work through these deficiencies that he might have or might not have. 'If we get him back onto some flatter wickets at the start of the Australian summer and some Sheffield Shield matches under his belt, maybe he's got a great chance there to get some confidence back and get some runs under his belt. I'll back him in.' Ponting himself is no stranger to being thrown in the deep end at the highest level, making his Test debut as a 20-year-old, and only compiling the one century in the format in his first two years in the Baggy Green. With that perspective, the ICC Hall of Famer provided invaluable insight. 'The unfortunate thing about Test cricket and when you're a young bloke trying to find your feet is quite often you have to work it out for yourself because it's out in the middle,' said Ponting. 'You can practice as much as you want, you can do things in the nets as much as you want, you can seek as much advice as you want, but you've got to find a method and something that works for you out in the middle. 'Now that might be technique-wise, it might be the way you approach it, it might be the mental side of your game, but there's no greater experience than being out there and doing it.' 'It's trial and error until you actually find the exact right remedy that works for you and the only way you can do that is by being out in the middle and spending some time there. I mean for Sam, I think he's probably got that many people wanting to give him advice right now.' 'I'd be having one or two people that I'm really close to and asking for their advice and no more, and trying to keep all the noise away. It's easy to say that with all the media outlets and social media things that are out there now, it really is hard just to lie low and not listen to any of the stuff that's happening around you. 'But if I was him, I'd be trying to do that and I'd be keeping the preparation side and practice side as simple as possible.' UNI RKM
