IND vs AUS 3rd ODI: Mitchell Starc threat looms large as India face Australia in ODI series finale | Cricket News
India’s huge fall on Sunday set the stage for a ‘final’ at Chepauk on Wednesday and the chief architect behind this dramatic rejection is Aussie Tearaway Mitchell’s star.
India’s much-vaunted top-order has been unable to cope with the speed and swings he has created. With the numbers 3/49 and 5/53, he became a serious headache for India ahead of the midweek blockbuster.
The Chepauk Stadium, which will be the home of the Chennai Super Kings during the IPL starting later this month, will likely be a traditionally made-to-order slow-track, primarily prepared for the franchise. But Starc is capable of taking the throw out of the equation with his speed and spin. And with the humidity and sea breeze around, there’s a good chance he’ll get the ball back on Wednesday.
“Starc has the ability to bring the ball to the right-hander at a speed of 145 km/h. His actions are also very well rounded and such catchers – be it Mitchell Johnson, Lasith Malinga or Waqar Younis – are always successful against India,” former Indian rhythmic athlete L Balaji told TOI. .
While the ball coming is a big problem for people like Virat kohli and Suryakumar Yadav – who has two golden ducks back to back – Starc also has the ability to take one from the right-hander as a surprise serve. Rohit Sharma mentioned that delivery after India’s loss in Vizag and it was his opening partner Shubman Gill who fell into that trap in both games.
The talented opener managed to play the swing out of the body and finally caught in the gutter area.
“The only way to deal with such a fast driver is to let him play late. Let the ball do whatever it wants and then take the shot,” Balaji said.
The other option, as Sunil Gavaskar pointed out during the analysis after the second ODI, is to try to play Starc as straight as possible, especially during the first few rounds.
“The tendency to play sideways at such a pace too soon can cause some problems,” said Gavaskar.
Balaji, with all his experience playing at Chepauk, feels India can only try and be cautious against Starc in the first few rounds.
“It’s a matter of two or three passes. If the top order can get through that time, Starc might leak runs because the ball won’t do much when the speed driver tries to throw it up, as that’s the natural style his. Balaji says:
The Indian think tank, too, will be trying to find a way to deal with this threat before it becomes a threat, especially with the teams meeting for the bigger prize pool in June. And who knows, even in November!