Ashes 2021-22: Mitchell Starc proves his worth as first-over hero after latest all-time moment
Mitchell Starc says he’s been hearing the same criticism for “10 years”. But not only did his first-ball wicket silence the doubters, it saw him pass an English star in a key stat.
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Hailstorms lashed parts of Queensland’s coastline but didn’t leave the imprint of one cricket ball.
Mitchell Starc’s devastating first delivery of the series will be replayed on highlight reels for as long as the Ashes is played and while it shook the cricket world, it didn’t shock Australian teammates.
Having watched Starc rough up Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith in a series of hostile training sessions during the week, players were just waiting for the moment on day one when the cork popped off the bottle.
For just the second time in Ashes history, thunder struck on the first ball of the series as the man, who famously knocked over Brendon McCullum in the first over of a World Cup final, added another all-time moment to his collection.
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As well as the adrenalin of the Ashes, Starc’s emotional outburst of energy was surely at least partly sparked by those including Shane Warne, who had called for him to be axed – although rather than silencing Warne, the spin king was in commentary for Fox Cricket when Rory Burns had his leg stump bowled out of the ground.
“I’ve been hearing it for 10 years, it’s nothing new,” Starc said on 7 of the criticism.
“It must be the first of December when that starts happening.
“You could say I carried on because I probably did. That’s Ashes cricket isn’t it, it’s the heightened sense of everything … there was a fair few emotions going around.
“It’s no secret the way I go about my bowling is to be attacking, aim for those stumps. That’s part of how I bowl and it was nice to see it come off.”
According to Ricky Ponting on Channel 7, the blueprint for picking Starc in Test matches should be clear – watch him in the nets.
“If he can show teammates and coaches he’s bowling fast and swinging the ball then it’s a no brainer,” said Ponting.
“But if he’s not swinging the ball in the nets a couple of days before, it makes it harder to pick him.”
Those at Australian training over the past two weeks say Starc has been nothing short of scary: bowling at cracking pace and hooping the ball around corners.
Ponting said the take down of Burns was a deliberate tactic from Starc and Australia.
“I said they’d been thinking about it and talking about it. It was about doing it. And Mitchell Starc delivered,” said Ponting.
“I know there’s been some negativity around about Mitchell Starc, but that’s what he does. He takes wickets with the new ball. Whether it be a red ball or a white ball, if he gets it right he’s a wicket-taking machine.”
Starc has now taken more first over career wickets than any other current cricketer, highlighting his rare ability as a big-moment game-breaker.
It was the 13th time Starc has made his mark in the first over of a Test innings since 2014, and according to cricket.com.au that takes him ahead of rival James Anderson who has done it 12 times in the same period.
In white ball cricket, Starc has 19 first-over victims (next best Lasith Malinga 12), of course none more memorable than when he skittled New Zealand captain McCullum’s castle in the 2015 World Cup final, to essentially win the trophy for Australia at the MCG in one moment.
Warne told News Corp last week that his criticism of Starc or any other player is just him doing what he’s paid to do – giving an opinion and not sitting on the fence.
The Fox Cricket expert said he has nothing personally against Starc.
“I have no issue whatsoever. It’s not personal. I’m there to judge what I see and I think I’ve earned the right after 30 odd years of being involved and did pretty well for Australia and I’d like to think I’m a pretty good judge on how to win games and what needs to be done and I’m pretty good tactically and strategically,” Warne said.
“I’m weak in a few areas but I’m pretty strong in those areas. And I think I’ve earned the right and respect to have an opinion.
“If Mitchell Starc wants to talk about anything I’m happy to talk to him too. If he wants to have a beer and have a chat about stuff I’ll say, ‘Mitch, mate, happy to chat.’ I’ve got no issue.”
Gabba horrors haunt England in latest Ashes catastrophe
— Ben Dorries
It was in Starc contrast to Steve Harmison’s Shoddyline delivery but the shocking first ball calamity was the same result for the woeful Poms as they revisited their Gabba house of horrors.
Ghosts of Ashes series past returned to haunt this England side as another red-faced start invoked memories of Harmison’s wide to second slip which launched the 2006/07 series.
The opening ball of an Ashes can set the tone for an entire series and there have been few more embarrassing starts than Rory Burns falling over to the legside only to have Mitchell Starc’s yorker smash into the base of his leg stump.
Starc became the first man in 85 years to strike with the first ball of an Ashes series as he sent shudders down the Poms’ spine and thumbed his nose at his harshest critic Shane Warne.
From there, carnage turned into catastrophe for an England side which was bowled out for 147 after spending much of the pre-Test build-up pondering how to get out of the Gabbatoir without egg on their faces.
Former captain Michael Vaughan talked about England trying to “get away from the Gabba not losing” while Brisbane-hating former batsman Kevin Pietersen predicted the Poms would be in peril on the pitch.
Not once did there seem to be talk of winning the Gabba Test, a venue where the record of the Poms is so bleak that they haven’t won since 1986.
As the Poms plunged into disarray, big-moment men Joe Root and Ben Stokes came and went in quick succession.
There were pre-series predictions they both could be a thorn in the Australian side, but Root was outwitted by precise quick Josh Hazlewood without the England captain adding to his 1455 Test runs this year.
It only added to Root’s woes given he had won the toss and batted on a juicy Gabba deck.
The enigmatic Stokes barely troubled the scorers in his return to top level cricket from a four-month break as the 2019 Headingley hero became Pat Cummins’ first wicket in his new job as Aussie Test captain.
Cummins went on to take four more wickets in an epic start to his new job as Test captain.
Even the local constabulary were taking the mickey, with the boys in blue tweeting: “Queensland Police are launching an investigation into a group impersonating a Test batting order at the Gabba.”
One of the last things England needed in their day of destruction was to give young tall timber Cameron Green an infusion of confidence, so new in his Test career.
Queensland Police are launching an investigation into a group impersonating a Test batting order at the Gabba.
— Queensland Police (@QldPolice) December 8, 2021
But the Poms managed to do that as well when Green scored his first Test wicket, bouncing out Ollie Pope to spark jubilant Aussie celebrations.
While there was chaos on the pitch for the Poms, there was also a bizarre moment before stumps when they made the decision to sit out both Stuart Broad and James Anderson.
Even new Australian captain Cummins was gobsmacked that neither one would line up at the Gabba.
The English duo have a collective 1156 Test wickets between them with Anderson No.1 on the nation’s all-time tally with 632 and Broad with 524.
If they were resting their ageing fast bowling warriors with a few to upcoming pink ball Tests, it was a dud call which failed to grasp the fact they needed to bring their very best to win at the Gabba which has been a graveyard for so many touring sides.
Cam Green gets his first Test wicket thanks to an incredible catch from Josh Hazlewood! #Ashespic.twitter.com/vBccdWkKbh
— News Cricket (@NewsCorpCricket) December 8, 2021
Hour of carnage: How Australia dismantled England
— Robert Craddock and Emma Greenwood
Overs 0.1
Rory Burns b Mitch Starc 0 (1)
Mitchell Starc opens the Ashes series with a stunner, bowling the left-hander around his legs. He is the first man in 85 years to strike with the first ball of an Ashes series. It is the second time Starc has claimed a wicket with the first ball of a Test match, the last time against Sri Lanka at Galle in 2016 when he dismissed Dimuth Karunaratne. He is only the sixth bowler in Test cricket history to claim two first ball of a Test match wickets. Rory Burns first opener in Test cricket history to bag six ducks in a calendar year.
FIRST BALL OF THE SUMMER 😲#Ashespic.twitter.com/LI1walsQKI
— News Cricket (@NewsCorpCricket) December 8, 2021
Overs 3.2
Dawid Malan c Alex Carey b Josh Hazlewood 6 (9)
Josh Hazlewood strikes with just his eighth ball of the day. The consistent fast bowler entices an edge from Malan with a ball just short of a length, angling across the left-hander with plenty of bounce. Malan edges it to debutant wicketkeeper Alex Carey who takes his first catch in Test cricket.
Two down! What a start from the Aussies. #Ashespic.twitter.com/NZCpWCIEVn
— News Cricket (@NewsCorpCricket) December 8, 2021
Overs 5.5
Joe Root c David Warner b Josh Hazlewood 0 (9)
Hazlewood sets up the England skipper and has his second wicket in just his third over with an edge to David Warner at first slip. It is the eighth time Hazlewood has dismissed Root in Test cricket and the fast bowler now has two wickets for just 1 run off his opening three overs.
Josh Hazlewood's second wicket is Joe Root 🦆! #Ashespic.twitter.com/18sRqYsTTE
— News Cricket (@NewsCorpCricket) December 8, 2021
Overs 12.4
Ben Stokes c Marnus Labuschagne b Pat Cummins 5 (21)
New Aussie Test skipper Cummins claims his first scalp of the series and it’s a big one just after drinks. Cummins sets Stokes up with some shorter balls then one fired in at the body that he tries to fend away but Labuschagne takes a superb diving catch to his left. England are now in massive trouble at 4/29.
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Captain Cummins knocks over Ben Stokes! 🔥#ASHES LIVE 👉 https://t.co/n64lEwYz1epic.twitter.com/pRUb61Ux6C
— News Cricket (@NewsCorpCricket) December 8, 2021
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