Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc has candidly admitted that a lot of things simply haven’t felt right for him during the ongoing Test series against South Africa. However, after reviewing video footage alongside his coaching staff and family, the left-arm pacer concluded that he was largely searching for problems that did not actually exist in his bowling action.
Starc endured a difficult start to the opening day of the third Test at Newlands in Cape Town, initially conceding 62 runs without taking a wicket in his first twelve overs as South Africa capitalized on favorable batting conditions. The tourists struggled immensely during the opening morning session after captain Pat Cummins opted to field first, allowing the hosts to cruise comfortably to a commanding score of 140 without loss.
Turning the Tide with the Second New Ball
The veteran seamer orchestrated a dramatic turnaround later in the day by utilizing the bouncer tactic effectively before completely dismantling South Africa’s lower order with textbook swing bowling. Starc finished with brilliant figures of 6 for 72, completely shifting the momentum and restricting the opposition to 329 all out.
- Mitchell Starc bounced back from 0 for 62 to claim outstanding figures of 6 for 72 on the opening day.
- South Africa had reached 140 without loss before Australia’s bowling attack fought back strongly.
- Starc reviewed video footage with assistant coach James Franklin, Andrew McDonald, and his wife Alyssa Healy.
- Steve Smith was ruled out of the match due to a neck issue, resulting in a late call-up for Josh Inglis.
Overcoming Mental Hurdles and Tactical Adjustments
Reflecting on his recent form and a slow start in the series, Starc explained that reviewing previous spells from the Ashes alongside his recent performances revealed virtually no technical discrepancies in his action. He acknowledged that the ordeal was largely a matter of feel and that he had been overcomplicating his mental approach to the game rather than dealing with any genuine mechanical flaws.
The day was also marked by significant team changes for Australia, who made four alterations to their playing XI for the first time since their 2018 tour of Johannesburg. Steve Smith’s unfortunate absence due to a neck injury sustained at St George’s Park forced a last-minute reshuffle, with Cameron Green stepping into the number four batting slot and Josh Inglis returning to the lineup at number five.
Keep browsing Sporting Avenue to get more interesting news from the world of sports. You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to get the notifications instantly.
