WTC Final: "It's The Duke Ball, It Stays Nice Throughout The Day" - Mitchell Starc Optimistic Of Winning The Contest Against India

Last Update on: June 11th, 2023 at 04:22 pm

India needs another 280 runs to pull off the greatest run chase of all time. Mitchell Starc‘s role would be quite decisive in this crunch match. Mitchell Starc had taken the key wicket of Virat Kohli in the 1st innings which changed the course of the match. Once again Virat’s wicket would be pivotal in determining the result of the match.

418 runs is the highest target attained which was done by West Indies against Australia way back in 2003 in Antigua. India will have to carefully play out the morning session which will be pivotal to the team’s success as a wicketless session will keep the team in good stead.

It won’t be a surprise if the shrewd off-spinner Nathan Lyon bowls marathon spells as the cracks had started to deteriorate in the evening session of Day 4. Along with Nathan Lyon, the part-time spinner Travis Head can also roll his arm and bowl in tandem.

Also Read: WTC Final: “We Need To Practice Letting Go” – Virat Kohli Posts A Cryptic Instagram Story After Day 4 Of ICC World Test Championship Final

Virat Kohli so far in his knock has seemed on a mission, the batter has scored 44 runs in 60 balls and has timed most of the deliveries. The pitch is expected to keep low as the batters can’t trust the bounce of the surface which is the major concern for Virat & Rahane.

Also Read: WTC Final: Virat Kohli Smacks Sachin Tendulkar’s Historic Record In ICC Knockouts As He Completes 5000 Runs Against Australia In International Cricket

It’s certainly exciting for the fans – Mitchell Starc

Ahead of the match, Mitchell Starc was having an interaction with the commentary panel and was quite pumped up for Day 5. Starc said that the pitch might play a part in the match.

“That’s what you want in a final, a good spectacle, two of the best teams, comes down to the last day of this Test match. It’s exciting for us, it’s certainly exciting for the fans. We have a great attack that can take that wicket (of Kohli), fortunate in the first innings,” said Mitchell Starc.

“Pitch might play a part, it’s not quite shown the tricks and the demons we thought it might. But day five could toss up all sorts of things. Was a little bit surprising, we can see from the surface that there’s some cracks there. Hope for it to break up a little bit more today, sun’s obviously out,” he stated.

Also Read: WTC Final: “Shubman Gill’s Dismissal Will Be Discussed For Eternity”- Aakash Chopra

The Duke ball doesn’t change too much – Mitchell Starc

Mitchell Starc was quite sure that the Duke ball would keep the same throughout the day. Starc made a statement that Scott Boland & skipper Pat Cummins have different tactics as compared to him.

“It’s been warmer the last couple of days, we’ll see how the day plays out. We just need to be patient. (First change) It’s the Duke ball, it stays nice throughout the day. Doesn’t change too much, obviously Scotty and Patty present something different than what I do,” said Mitchell Starc.

“The great thing with us is not only the three of us but certainly Josh, Ness as well can all bowl with the new ball. That offers a few options for Pat when he likes to change things up. (On Lyon) The wicket of Rohit was big for us,” he stated.

“There’s enough there as we saw with Jadeja, obviously different bowlers but I think he’s still playing a valuable role for us. One that can take wickets, one that can hold one end. A big day for Nathan as well,” he added.

Also Read: WTC Final: “It Should Have Been Checked Better” – Mohammed Shami On Shubman Gill’s Wicket