Australian left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc said he didn’t do anything special to dismiss Yashasvi Jaiswal for a golden duck on Day 1 of the 2nd BGT 2024-25 Test in Adelaide on December 6. The experienced bowler revealed his plan was simple—bowl at the stumps and target the pads.
After winning the toss and opting to bat, India had a disastrous start as Jaiswal was trapped lbw by Starc on the first ball of the match. The left-hander tried to flick but was undone by late swing. India never fully recovered from the poor start and was bowled out for 180 in 44.1 overs.
At the end of Day 1’s play, Starc was asked if he had a specific strategy for Jaiswal. He responded (as quoted by ICC):
“At the stumps, hit the pads. That’s it. Nothing special.”
https://x.com/cricketcomau/status/1864886583578468562?s=46
The 34-year-old, who recorded career-best figures of 6-48, mentioned that bowling straight and targeting the stumps has been a consistent role he has played for the team. Starc elaborated:
“That’s been my role for a while: to attack the stumps and try and make early inroads. Pleased to sneak one past today. We know how important it is to make early inroads into this batting lineup. It’s always a nice way to start. It is a big Test match, it’s a big series.”
“Some of the shots played by Reddy were exceptional”- Mitchell Starc
At 141-8, India were on the brink of being dismissed for under 150. However, young Nitish Kumar Reddy rose to the occasion, top-scoring with 42 off 54 balls, including three fours and three sixes. The 21-year-old’s knock featured some bold shots to the boundary.
Praising Reddy, Starc noted that the impact of IPL and T20 cricket is evident in modern Test batting, especially among younger players. The experienced cricketer remarked:
“Yeah, the game’s changed. I guess that’s partly the T20-era. Some of these guys come up through IPL cricket and there’s no fear. There’s expectation to be good from the get-go. They’re quality players from the time they get into international cricket, no matter what their age is.”
“We’ve seen Jaiswal’s great innings recently, and Reddy played some special shots today. Whether it’s T20 cricket or the fearless approach in Test cricket, I’ve been around long enough to see the game evolve,” Starc concluded.
Chasing India’s 180, Australia reached 86-1 after 33 overs at stumps on Day 1 in Adelaide, with Nathan McSweeney not out on 38 and Marnus Labuschagne on 20.
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