Latest news with #BaggyGreen
India Today
18-07-2025
- Sport
- India Today
How Mitchell Starc's spell to Sachin Tendulkar showed he was destined for greatness
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 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 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 advertisement
Perth Now
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Boland the best in 100 years, but remains unlucky man
Scott Boland could lay claim to being Australia's unluckiest ever cricketer, after adding a Test hat-trick to a magical late-career surge since his famous 2021 Boxing Day debut. Statistically the best Test bowler in more than 100 years, Boland became just the 10th Australian man to take a hat-trick on Monday (Tuesday AEST) in Jamaica. His haul came on a record-breaking day for the tourists, who bowled West Indies out for just 27 to wrap up a 176-run win and 3-0 sweep of the Frank Worrell Trophy. Starc was the chief destroyer with 6-9 up front, but Boland again vindicated the selectors' call to go with four quicks and leave out a fit Nathan Lyon for the first time in 12 years. Boland's inclusion also allowed him to join Glenn McGrath as the only paceman to play for Australia after his 36th birthday in the last 60 years. In Australia's 39 Tests since his 2021 debut, Boland has played just 14 of them for a hat-trick, 6-7 on debut in 2021 and 10-wicket match haul in Sydney last summer. All of it prompting Starc to label the seamer one of the unluckiest men to ever wear the Baggy Green. "He would have played so many more Test matches in another team," Starc said. "But every time he comes in he is on the money, like we saw this week. He is never far from the perfect length. "He is preparing all the time to play, and this week he got his opportunity and showed what a wonderful Test bowler he is." When Boland's next Test will come remains unclear. Selectors have repeatedly shown that Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins maintain top billing in Australia's squad, with Boland only picked ahead of any of them once. The final three Tests of this summer's Ashes will be played over a 23-day window, potentially opening door for the Victorian to come in if one of the big three are rested. Otherwise he could be forced to wait again, despite having the seventh-best bowling average in Test history with 16.53, and the best of any bowler in the past 100 years. Boland has been close to hat-tricks before, but nailed his execution in Kingston when he took the top of Jomel Warrican's off stump. He had previously discarded Justin Greaves and Shamar Joseph, edging the former off before having Joseph trapped lbw on review. "Today was three classic Scotty Boland wickets," Cummins said. "Three right at the stumps or not far away. Really happy for him. "He has spent a lot of time running the drinks in the past year or two when the other guys are fit, but he is always quality when he comes in." LIST OF TEST HAT-TRICKS BY AUSTRALIANS: * Fred Spofforth v England, Melbourne 1878-79 * Hugh Trumble v England, Melbourne 1901-02 * Hugh Trumble v England, Melbourne 1903-04 * Jimmy Matthews v South Africa, Manchester 1912 (1st innings) * Jimmy Matthews v South Africa, Manchester 1912 (2nd innings) * Lindsay Kline v South Africa, Cape Town 1957-58 * Merv Hughes v West Indies, Perth 1988-89 * Damien Fleming v Pakistan, Rawalpindi 1994-95 * Shane Warne v England, Melbourne 1994-95 * Glenn McGrath v West Indies, Perth 2000-01 * Peter Siddle v England, Brisbane 2010-11 * Scott Boland v West Indies, Kingston 2025
Indian Express
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
Mitchell Starc's 100th Test: ‘Huge honour, probably something to reflect on when I'm finished'
Mitchell Starc is all set to become only the second Australian fast bowler after Glenn McGrath to feature in 100 Tests when he walks out to take the field in the third Test against West Indies on Sunday. The left armer hasn't missed a Test with injury since early 2023, and it took a tendon torn off the bone of his bowling finger to keep him out then. Right through his career he has pushed himself to the limits in Australian colours and choosing to skip the IPL riches to manage workload. Having suffered back, knee, ankle, calf, foot and shin injuries early in his career, he's since refused to leave his side a man down. At one point there were serious doubts if he could play Test cricket for long. But this weekend at Kingston, Starc would get his 100th Baggy Green cap. 'I've looked after or tried to look after my body and be able to find ways through pain barriers to make an impact for the team,' Starc told 'I've been a player that's been injured and left them a man down before and I never wanted to do that again. So to find ways when things weren't going well, or things were sore, or if I was carrying something, to still be able to push through and finish games and still be impactful, was part of it. But I've also had a lot of help along the way, with trainers and physios and my best mates being teammates, all helped me to keep playing and wanting to compete and still be a part of the group,' Strac added. Having overseen Australia's huge transition, he formed a lethal pair with Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. Apart from winning the 50-over World Cup twice, Starc was also part of the Australian squad that won the World Test Championship in 2023. Having began his age-group career as a wicketkeeper, Starc said he never thought he would feature in as many Tests. 'I didn't think I'd play one (Test),' said Starc. '(It's) pretty humbling to play that much. A huge honour, probably something more to reflect on when I'm finished. Anytime you're mentioned alongside some of those names, like Glenn (and) I've been fortunate enough to play with Mitchell Johnson (73 Tests), 'Sidds' (Peter Siddle, 67 Tests) and 'Rhino' (Ryan Harris, 27 Tests) and to have a bit of relationship with Brett (Lee, 76 Tests), I've been very lucky through cricket to a meet those guys and then play alongside or learn different pieces from them,' Starc said.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Cricket in United States of America: Not an arrival, but a homecoming
Seattle Orcas players during a Major League Cricket match. (Sportzpics) (The following piece is written by Satya Nadella, Chairman & CEO of Microsoft and the co-owner of MLC franchise Seattle Orcas) For cricket fans around the world, this is an exciting moment — a drumbeat resounds across continents. India's tour of England rekindles memories of sun-drenched afternoons and timeless rivalries. Australia's clash with the West Indies echoes Caribbean flair and Baggy Green grit. And here in the United States, Major League Cricket (MLC) surges into its knockout rounds, a new chapter being written on unfamiliar soil. Women's cricket is blossoming, and youth academies hum with the energy of tomorrow's stars. Major League Cricket 2025 Explained: Teams, Schedule & Where to Watch As a boy growing up in Hyderabad, cricket wasn't just a game — it was the rhythm of life. I remember the dusty matting wickets of the Deccan Plateau, the chalk-drawn stumps on compound walls. I bowled off-spin through my school and college years, dreaming of playing professionally. But while cricket stirred my soul, computers quietly captured my mind. Even today, I find myself lost in the romantic poetry of the game. Cricket is a novel in motion — part Tolstoy in its depth, part Tagore in its grace. Every over is a stanza, and each innings a chapter. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The drama simmers slowly, then blooms all at once. A single audacious stroke or a trio of cunning deliveries can tilt the narrative, like a plot twist you never saw coming. From cricket, I've drawn three enduring principles. First, to compete fiercely, even when the odds are long and the crowd is silent. Second, to put one's team above one's self — because centuries and five-fors fade, but camaraderie is the enduring victory. And third, to lead with clarity and conviction, knowing that leadership is less about commannd and more about coherence. Satya Nadella In 'Netherland', Joseph O'Neill captures this magic: 11 players moving in unison toward the batsman, then retreating, again and again, 'a repetition of pulmonary rhythm, as if the field breathed through its luminous visitors.' That image lingers with me, not just as a fan, but as a leader. It reminds me that great teams breathe together. From cricket, I've drawn three enduring principles. First, to compete fiercely, even when the odds are long and the crowd is silent. Second, to put one's team above one's self, because centuries and five-fors fade, but camaraderie is the enduring victory. And third, to lead with clarity and conviction, knowing that leadership is less about command and more about coherence. At Microsoft, our mission and culture serve as our North Star, guiding every decision we make. We strive to build technology that is a democratizing force, empowering every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. MLC: Venky Harinarayan on growing cricket in the USA, AI-driven teams and the Olympic boost In the cricketing world, our ownership of the Seattle Orcas in MLC is rooted in similar values. Now in our third season, we've seen triumph and heartbreak — reaching the finals in year one, navigating setbacks in years two and three. That's the game. That's life. What matters is how you respond. I've cheered for the Orcas with a fervor I once reserved for my Hyderabad Ranji team. Because when sport meets home, it becomes something sacred. It becomes ours. As a technologist, I am excited about how innovation can impact sport. The thrill of a perfect cover drive or a toe-crushing yorker will always remain, but behind the scenes, tech will elevate both players and fans. Seattle Orcas players during a Major League Cricket match. (Sportzpics) Microsoft's partnership with the England and Wales Cricket Board is a case in point — using data and AI to grow the game, connect communities, and inspire generations. And with Indian legend Anil Kumble's company, Spektacom, we're blending engineering with elegance. Sensors, cameras, and cloud intelligence now decode the art of batting in real time, turning every shot into a story. Cricket's roots in America run deeper than many realise. George Washington played 'wicket' with his troops. Ranjitsinhji toured the US leading an English team in the 19th century. So perhaps what we are witnessing is not novelty, but return. The Seattle Orcas squad for the 2025 Major League Cricket. (Sportzpics) The South Asian diaspora is not importing cricket, it is remembering it, resurrecting world-class cricket back on American shores. This is just the beginning. The willow's whisper, the crowd's roar, the hush before a final ball — these moments are finding new homes, new hearts. And I, for one, can't wait to see where the game goes next. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
News18
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Pat Cummins' Baggy Green Goes Missing Before 1st Test Against West Indies
Australia captain Pat Cummins found himself in an unexpected situation ahead of the first Test against the West Indies in Barbados, as his brand-new Baggy Green cap mysteriously disappeared just before the toss. The cap, which Cummins had specially chosen to debut after deciding to retire his 14-year-old original, vanished shortly after a pre-series photoshoot with Windies skipper Roston Chase. The disappearance forced Cummins to bring back his old, worn Baggy Green — a nostalgic twist to a match Australia would go on to dominate, winning by 159 runs. The incident has raised eyebrows, especially since replacing the iconic cap is rare in Aussie cricket tradition. Cummins, Baggy Green, Baggy Green cap, Pat Cummins Baggy Green missing, Cummins cap missing, Australia vs West Indies, AUS vs WI 1st Test, Barbados Test 2025, cricket news, Pat Cummins news, Australian cricket, Cummins old Baggy Green, David Warner Baggy Green, Baggy Green tradition, cricket mystery, cricket controversy, Roston Chase, Cummins photoshoot, Test cricket, cricket updates, cricket stories, WI vs AUS, WI vs AUS 1st Test,Like and subscribe to our channel and never miss a to CricketNext YouTube channel to never miss a video: CricketNext on Facebook: CricketNext on Twitter: CricketNext on Instagram: :
