Mitchell Starc was far from his best in the New Year’s Ashes Test, and these damning numbers suggest he shouldn’t play in Hobart.
For the third time in 12 months, Australia’s bowlers couldn’t get the job done on day five of a Test match.
The Aussies were allocated 102 overs to take the 10 wickets required for victory on Sunday, but England’s lower-order weathered the storm to clinch a gritty draw at the SCG. The coveted urn is already in Australia’s possession, but a 5-0 whitewash would have been the target following the MCG demolition job last month.
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Cricket pundits will question whether Pat Cummins should have declared earlier in the second innings, but the Australian captain provided ample time for a bowling attack of this quality.
The weather gods didn’t help Australia’s cause either, with seven overs lost on Sunday due to rain – but regardless, it would have been frustrating for another Test victory that seemed a certainty at stumps on day four to slip through their fingers.
“The (SCG’s) day five wicket doesn’t play like a traditional, broken day five wicket,” Cummins told reporters in the post-match press conference.
“We were hoping for 110 plus overs – we thought that would be enough, but at the back of our mind we knew it would potentially be a grind out there.
“From this year compared to last year, we probably made some improvements. We probably stuck to our plans for a little bit longer.
“But when you’re that far ahead in a game, of course you want to win it … we got close, just not close enough.”
Australian paceman Mitchell Starc was the leading contender for Player of the Series ahead of the New Year’s Test, but the left-armer was uncharacteristically ineffective on day five, finishing with figures of 0/68 from 18 overs in the second innings.
England tailenders Jack Leach and Stuart Broad seemed unfazed by Starc’s additional speed after the second new ball was taken, with the Aussie quick struggling to land the fresh Kookaburra on a damaging length.
Steve Smith dropped a tough catch at second slip off Starc’s bowling to gift Jonny Bairstow an extra life on 28, but it was the only chance he created in the second innings.
Over the past 12 months, Starc has averaged 126.00 with the ball in the fourth innings of Tests, claiming just two scalps in 83 overs – they’re worrying numbers for a cricketer who over the past decade has developed a reputation for cleaning up the tail.
Fatigue also potentially contributed to Starc’s lacklustre performance in the second innings – the New South Welshman is the only pace bowler from either side who played in each of the first four Tests.
On Sunday, the 31-year-old occasionally grimaced as he slammed his front foot on the developing footmarks. As his body tired, his accuracy dwindled with it.
“These are the signs of wear and tear,” former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist said on Fox Cricket. “He’s had a terrific series Starc, and that’s not a good sign.”
Despite boasting an impeccable record with the pink ball, it could be worthwhile resting Starc for the fifth Test in Hobart. National selectors opted not to rotate Australia’s bowlers against India last summer, a decision that backfired spectacularly at the Gabba.
“He’s the one frontline bowler for Australia that’s played all four Test matches, and that might be the first signal Hobart might be a step too far,” Gilchrist said.
Former Test batter Mark Waugh agreed: “I think Starc might be due for a rest.”
Cricket writer Daniel Brettig tweeted: “Starc looking like he could‘ve done with a breather before Hobart.”
Sky News reporter Mark Stevens agreed: “Starc out of puff … energy and zip low.”
Mitchell Starc’s Test bowling average
24.44 – 1st match of a series
23.91 – 2nd match of a series
30.47 – 3rd match of a series
41.52 – 4th match of a series
52.66 – 5th match of a series
Mitchell Starc’s Test strike rate
44.7 – 1st match of a series
44.2 – 2nd match of a series
53.7 – 3rd match of a series
67.8 – 4th match of a series
101.0 – 5th match of a series
Speaking ahead of the Ashes series, veteran seamer Stuart Broad said it would be “unrealistic” to expect the pace bowlers to play all five Tests.
“In Australia, you want to be fresh,” he told Fox Cricket. “You have to hit that pitch very hard. You need to be buzzing every time you get that ball in your hands.”
Thankfully, Australia’s bowling depth is not a cause for concern – Jhye Richardson and Michael Neser have been patiently waiting in the wings since the Adelaide day-night Test.
After taking his maiden Test five-wicket haul last month, Richardson would presumably be the seamer who replaces Starc in Hobart if required.
The fifth Ashes Test between Australia and England gets underway at Bellerive Oval on Friday.
Originally published as ‘Looks cooked’: Mitchell Starc showing signs of wear and tear
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