Mitchell Starc had an impressive outing with the ball against South Africa on Day 1 of the WTC final being played at Lord’s. Meanwhile, legendary pacer Dale Steyn recently praised Starc’s skill in exploiting indecision, citing dismissals like that of Aiden Markram, who was left caught in the crease by sheer pace.
Steyn highlighted how Starc, along with fellow Australians Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, possesses the rare ability to subtly adjust length and extract extra bounce, consistently outsmarting world-class batters.
He’s really quick: Steyn on Starc
“He’s really quick through the air, and I certainly think he rushes a lot of batsmen. When you’re a bit nervous and your feet aren’t moving the way you want—just like Aiden Markram—he was caught in the crease, unsure whether to go forward or not. Starc had already gone past the bat a few times, maybe even beaten him on the inside edge once or twice,” said Steyn as per Sports Today
“Then Rickelton decided he could hit it through the covers, and the best Test bowlers in the world have this ability to pull their length back just slightly. A batter thinks he’s got it covered, but then it kicks up, moves just a little more, finds the edge. That’s what Starc, Cummins, and Hazlewood have done so well over the years,” he added.
At the end of Day 1 of the WTC final, Starc’s two scalps alongside a wicket each for Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have put South Africa under the pump. While there are four more days to go, the Aussies will fancy their chances of retaining the title and adding another crown to their collection.
