Mitchell Starc’s pink ball mastery leaves Hayden and ten Doeschate in awe

Mitchell Starc once again demonstrated his prowess with the pink ball, delivering a sensational six-wicket haul on the opening day of the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Adelaide. His exploits earned praise from former Australian opener Matthew Hayden and India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate, both of whom highlighted the unique skills that make Starc a “magician” with the pink ball.

Starc’s performance on Day 1 included remarkable deliveries that left India’s batters struggling. His inswinging first-ball dismissal of Yashasvi Jaiswal and the peach of a delivery that removed Ravichandran Ashwin stood out as some of his finest work in Test cricket. Even as late as the 40th over, Starc managed to swing the ball aggressively, showcasing his mastery over the pink ball.

Speaking on Star Sports, Matthew Hayden expressed his admiration for Starc’s ability to maintain swing deep into the innings. “I’ve never really seen the pink ball swing so aggressively in the 40th over. He used a really important word—momentum. Starc wrestled it back for Australia when India seemed to have the upper hand. He’s just a magician with the pink ball,” Hayden remarked.

India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate also lauded Starc’s skill, calling Ashwin’s dismissal the perfect example of why the Australian pacer excels with the pink ball. “When batters are forced to guess on both sides of the wicket, it makes a bowler far more effective. Starc’s ability to swing the ball both ways and his consistency with line and length were superb today,” ten Doeschate explained.

He added, “Starc takes a lot of confidence from the pink ball, and he’s arguably the best exponent of swing bowling among both teams.”

Also See: India Cricket Schedule | Australia Cricket Schedule

Starc’s brilliance turned the momentum firmly in Australia’s favor, with India bowled out for 180. His exceptional spell reinforced his reputation as one of the finest pink-ball bowlers in cricket history. As Australia finished Day 1 at 86/1, trailing by just 94 runs, Starc’s contributions have set the tone for a commanding performance in the Test.