Mitchell Starc rocks the West Indies as Australia return to form

New faces were everywhere in the Australian ODI team, but it was the old heads who rocked West Indies as Mitchell Starc dazzled with the ball.

Mitchell Starc celebrates as Australia romped to a massive win in the ODI opener against the West Indies. (Photo by Randy Brooks / AFP)

A first ball wicket from Australian firebrand Mitchell Starc ignited a West Indian collapse as the pace-ace finished with five wickets in a massive one-day triumph for stand-in skipper Alex Carey in Barbados.

Bold selection calls pre-game produced an Australian team with seven different players from the last ODI last December, including three first-gamers – Josh Philippe, Ben McDermott and Wes Agar - walking out in green and gold at Kensington Oval in Barbados.

Matthew Wade played his first ODI in four years and West Australian slugger Ashton Turner his first 50-over game for Australia in 18 months.

Mitchell Starc was back to his rampaging best.

It took Carey, who made 67 as he took over the captaincy from an injured Aaron Finch, to put on a 104-run stand with Turner to get the tourists to 9-256.

Then Starc, the most experienced player in the new-look side, went bang first with a wicket first ball that was the entree for an Australian bowling feast, rolling the West Indies for just 123.

The left-armer snared three wickets in his first four overs and with his long-time bowling partner, Josh Hazlewood, taking three himself the home side was floundering at 6-23.

Hazelwood had the imperious figures of 3-3 from four overs as the Australians put their T20 series defeat behind them to embarrass the locals.

Kieron Pollard provided the lone resistance for the home team before Starc returned to remove him for 56 then added another late scalp to finish with figures of 5-48 in Australia’s 133 run win.

South Australian seamer Agar (0-15) was presented his cap in an emotional pre-match huddle by brother Ashton, who was then left out of the team that took on a whole new-look with more than 20,000 ODI runs not playing.

Without Finch and regulars David Warner, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis not on the tour, coach Justin Langer turned to the next generation.

Ashton Agar said it was the emotions “came flooding out” when he presented his brother, Wes, with his national cap.

“It’s pretty hard to put that stuff in to words. Just pride I think, you’re really proud,” Ashton Agar told cricket.com.

“It’s no secret I love him a lot, we’re a very close family, and you just want to see your people do well. It was a beautiful moment and I’ll cherish that forever.”

Australia had not named three debutants for an international match since 2018 when Aaron Finch, Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head all played their first Test in Dubai.

The last time three players made their ODI debut in the same match was almost a decade ago, in 2012-13, when Finch, Phil Hughes and Usman Khawaja played against Sri Lanka.

WOW! First ball, first wicket for Australia!

📺 WATCH: #WIvAUShttps://t.co/NINoiPQatR
📝 BLOG: https://t.co/d6G5XvSpQN
📱 MATCH CENTRE: https://t.co/5FgdIhKRDHpic.twitter.com/8uTprl8cMA

— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) July 20, 2021

Nice start Wes!#WIvAUS

— Jason Gillespie 🌱 (@dizzy259) July 21, 2021

Mitch Marsh ignites walking debate after ‘unbelievable’ act of defiance 🤔

Do you like to see this❓ You decide >>> https://t.co/GA1gGhLowY#WIvAUSpic.twitter.com/3xdKIBz9q9

— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) July 20, 2021

In the absence of captain and opener Finch, Philippe and McDermott opened the innings at Kensington Oval and put on a 51-run stand before wickets started to fall at regular intervals.

Marsh was out after edging a ball down the leg side to keeper Nicholas Pooran.

A loud West Indian appeal was turned down by umpire Joel Wilson, but when the bowling team went for the review, Marsh began to walk, knowing he was out, and was already at the boundary when the dismissal was confirmed.

Carey came in with his team 3-99 and, with Turner, put on a 104-run partnership that included a short rain interruption.

The skipper was out in the 45th over, and Turner couldn’t go on with it either, dismissed for 49, off just 45 balls, and the tailenders didn’t fare too well.

Wade made just three in the late chase for runs as boom West Indian spinner Hayden Walsh Jr was on a hat-trick, which he didn’t get. But he did take 5-39 to close out the Australian innings.

Australia lost the T20 series against the West Indies 4-1 and will play three ODIs.

Originally published as Mitchell Starc rocks the West Indies as Australia return to form