Australia’s experienced speedster Mitchell Starc has opened up on how he successfully defended 11 runs against the dangerous Windies allrounder Andre Russell and helped the tourists secure their first win on the ongoing tour of the West Indies on Thursday (July 15).
Australia was winless in the ongoing West Indies tour having lost the first three T20Is of the five-match T20I series before Starc's heroic efforts in the fourth T20I, where he successfully defended 11 runs against Russell to help his team win the first game on the tour by 4 runs on Thursday.
The left-arm pacer said that the strategy of nailing the battle against Russell was to back his ability and decision and that worked. The ongoing five-match T20I series has not been great so far, as the pacer could manage only one wicket – the second T20I, but in the fourth T20I, he saved the match for Australia.
Starc was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au, “Having played a fair amount of white-ball cricket, it (bowling in the last five overs) has been a job of mine for the majority of my white-ball career. I've certainly got it wrong against 'Russ' (Russell) in the past -- game one is a prime example where I was probably bowling to plans that I was in two minds about.”
He further added, “I probably didn't back those plans personally. To go back to what strength of mine is and just to hit that hole -- I think that's ultimately what you need to do in T20 cricket; back your ability, back your decision. If you run in with two thoughts on your mind, you're behind the game already.”
The pacer signed off by saying, “I don't think I was bowling to plans I was comfortable for in the first game. I went away from my strengths. I thought those plans weren't right and we addressed that after game one. Personally, went back to things that were strengths of mine. The last three games I've been back on track.”
Notably, the fifth and final T20I between Australia and West Indies will be played on July 17.
(With IANS Inputs)
