How Mitchell Starc's spell to Sachin Tendulkar showed he was destined for greatness

India Today

6 days ago

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has revealed how a fiery spell bowled by a young Mitchell Starc to Sachin Tendulkar early in his Test career convinced the team that the left-arm quick was destined for greatness.Speaking on The ICC Review with Sanjana Ganesan, Ponting recalled a specific moment during Starc's third Test match - against India in Perth - when the then 21-year-old pacer made the cricketing world sit up and take notice.advertisement"I remember he was bowling a spell to Sachin Tendulkar and was able to bowl a short one, get up under Sachin's armpit and Sachin just sort of knocked one into short leg," Ponting said. "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."
Starc had made his first-class debut for New South Wales in 2009 at the age of 19, and earned his Baggy Green within two years - a rapid rise that hinted at his rare potential. Sixteen years and 292 international matches later, Starc has not only lived up to that early promise but firmly established himself as one of the premier fast bowlers to play 100 Test matches."He's really now stacking up an amazing career - over 400 Test match wickets," Ponting noted. "I think everyone who laid eyes on him as a youngster understood that there was every possibility he could be a 100-Test match, 400 or 500-wicket fast bowler for Australia."He's got to be 6'5". He's always had pace on his side - consistently bowling in the high 140s, even touching 150 km/h. He's always had the ability to swing the new ball back into the right-handers."Ponting also highlighted the longevity of Starc's career, crediting the fast bowler for making disciplined decisions that prioritised international cricket - including opting out of the Indian Premier League at various points to manage his workload."He's made a lot of decisions to give himself the best opportunity for a long-term international career," Ponting said. "He's stepped away from IPL tournaments when bigger commitments with Australia were on the horizon."Beyond raw pace, it's Starc's evolution that has impressed Ponting most. In recent years, the 35-year-old has added subtle variations to his bowling - including a three-quarter seam delivery that has made his trademark inswinger more threatening and his overall repertoire more versatile."He's got better and better," Ponting said. "Skill-wise and mentally, I think he understands his body, understands his game probably better than ever."advertisementPonting also pointed to the small, personal routines Starc has adopted to maintain his mental focus - including a strip of tape on his non-bowling wrist with motivational words as a constant reminder of his mindset and approach."He wears a bit of tape on his right wrist. He's just got a couple of words on it - reminders of what he has to do and how he has to think about it mentally," Ponting said. "Those little things, I think, are things you learn along the way with experience."Despite niggles that come with the territory of fast bowling, Starc continues to push through - a reflection of his resilience and dedication to the national team."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 over 400 Test wickets to his name."Starc's international rsum is among the most decorated in the modern game - a two-time ODI World Cup winner, T20 World Cup champion, World Test Championship winner, and a man with 725 wickets across formats.- Ends
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