Mitchell Starc rushed through India's top order in Visakhapatnam ODI as hosts registered their lowest score on home turf against Australia. The left-arm pacer continued to dominate India’s big guns and took early wickets to push them on the back foot. He took four wickets with the new ball. Starc’s spellbinding spell in overcast conditions reminded former Australia pacer of Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi.
"I think it's been the same for him. He just wants to swing the ball and get on the stumps basically. Conditions helped him out a little bit again. Even in Mumbai, it had something for the fast bowlers and obviously, it did today as well. I think he got it right and the batters got it wrong. He reminds me a little of Shaheen Afridi where no matter what the conditions are, he is brave enough to pitch the ball up, almost half-volley length on the stumps and backing his pace. Mitchell Starc is close to one of the greatest bowlers Australia has ever had in white-ball cricket," Tait was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.
This is not the first time a left-arm pacer has troubled Indian batter. In last few years, bowlers like Trent Boult, Afridi, Jason Behrendorff, Mustafizur Rahman and Reece Topley have not been easy to play for Indian batters.
Tait feels that the batter did not approach the game correctly as it was not a flat pitch and the conditions were not ideal to play big shots.
“There has been an issue. It's a struggle for a lot of batters. A left-armer who bowls at around 145 and can swing the ball is dangerous for anybody. Today, for example, what the Indian players did wrong was to setup for as if it was a flat pitch. Walking across the stumps and playing some loose shots. I think the conditions today didn't allow for that. It was probably a wicket where you had to spend some time and get through the tough periods," Tait elaborated.
While Indian fielders struggled to hit big shots with the exception of Axar Patel, Australian openers Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head seemed like they were batting in different conditions. Marsh and Head finished the run chase of 118 in just 11 overs to register biggest win (in terms of balls left) against India in the format.
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