Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting made a big claim after Mitchell Starc’s match-winning performance with a ball in the pink-ball Test against India in Adelaide. Ponting believes that Yashasvi Jaiswal’s sledge in the Perth Test led to Starc’s stunning performance.
Mitchell Starc was on fire in Adelaide and even struck with the first ball of the match. Interestingly, the wicketkeeper was India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal, who sledged the famous fast bowler in Perth, claiming he was “bowling too slow”.
Jaiswal looked in good form in the second innings of the Perth Test and scored his maiden hundred on Australian soil. He looked strong and confident, and he didn’t hesitate to sledge Stark.
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Ricky Ponting credits Yashasvi Jaiswal for Mitchell Starc’s performance in Adelaide
As Yashasvi Jaiswal skied Mitchell Starc, the latter responded with a wry smile but didn’t say a word. Ricky Ponting recently spoke about Starc’s electrifying performance in Adelaide and claimed that he is usually a calm person.
However, Ponting pointed out that if the fast bowler is provoked by anyone, he can put in a fiery performance like he did in Adelaide. The former Australian batter was referring to Perth’s Yashasvi Jaiswal’s sledge.
“He’s actually a pretty level-headed guy, Mitchell Starc. He doesn’t get too upset, even when he’s bowling now, you see. And if one of the batsmen says something, he usually responds with a smile on his face,” Ponting noted.
But I think that smile on his face hides a little of the fire burning inside. Look, he bowled beautifully in Adelaide, didn’t he?’ he said.
Ricky Ponting praises Mitchell Starc
Speaking later about Starc’s spell, Ponting praised him for being as consistent as ever. He took credit for Starc being such a threat at this stage of his career, claiming the left-arm quick is “absolutely in great shape” at the moment.
“He definitely deserves high praise. I mean, he’s probably been better in the last couple of years than he’s ever been. And the reason I say that is because he’s more consistent now than he’s ever been, but he’s as busy as ever. as is still the same,” Ponting explained.
“I mean, he was probably running over 150km/h a few years ago and he’s in great shape now. He was running in the mid-140s, but his consistency, the way he starts spells is really good now.” he added.
Starc has long been Australia’s best fast bowler in all formats. Over the years. he has seen many phases but he is deadly with the ball, causing problems for the opposition.
Mitchell Starc in the Adelaide Test
Mitchell Starc finished with figures of 2-14 and 1-111 in the Perth Test. He was taken to the cleaners by the in-form Yashasvi Jaiswal in the second innings. However, the experienced fast bowler returned to his set in the second Test.
He took the wicket of Jaiswal on the first ball of the match and went on to take a brilliant six-wicket haul in the first innings. Starc took 6-48 and 2-60 in two innings as the Indian batsmen were constantly troubled by the top-order bowling.
