Mitchell Starc believes body language issues are behind him after strong SCG display

AFTER being belted around by India and Shane Warne in Brisbane, fast bowler Mitchell Starc looks to have got his confidence back.

Australia's Mitchell Starc claims the wicket of Suresh Raina during Day 5 of 4th Test Australia v India at the SCG. pic. Phil Hillyard

AFTER being belted around by India and Shane Warne in Brisbane, fast bowler Mitchell Starc has got his confidence back.

For the first time, Starc has admitted the body language issue Warne criticised him for in commentary during the second Test, has been a problem for him in the past.

However, he said as far as the Gabba episode was concerned, everyone is entitled to a bad day.

Australia might not have won the fourth Test at the SCG, but the mature, controlled bowling performance produced by Starc in arduous conditions couldn’t have been better timed leading into a World Cup.

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Mitchell Starc copped a reprimand for this send-off of Murali Vijay. Picture: Phil Hillyard.

For all his inconsistency as a young Test bowler, Starc is a demon with the white ball in hand.

At ODI level he averages an awe-inspiring 22 and has netted 49 wickets from just 28 matches.

In that time Starc has claimed four-wicket hauls on four occasions, and has taken five-for in three matches.

By the numbers, it’s Starc and not fellow left-arm speedster Mitchell Johnson who is Australia’s smoking gun at this World Cup.

Starc is still finding himself as a Test bowler, but one-day cricket is his bread and butter.

Mitchell Starc at the announcement of the Australian World Cup squad. Picture: Phil Hillyard.

“With the white ball, it’s sort of going back to what I know best,” he said.

Starc says poor body language is a thing of a past as evidenced by the blazing send-off he gave to Indian opener Murali Vijay in the first innings in Sydney, which earned him a reprimand from the ICC.

The slap on the wrist is of no concern to Starc as he prepares to stick his chest out proudly for Australia on home soil.

“(Body language) has been an issue in the past. It was just a tough day (in Brisbane),” he said.

“Everyone’s had a tough day at the office and I guess day one in Brisbane was just one of those days.

“I just wanted to get out there in Sydney and bowl fast.

“I got a few up there in the 145s and 150km/h.

Mitchell Starc celebrates after taking the wicket of India captain Virat Kohli. Picture: Brett Costello.

“Having those two games back in the Big Bash, and then in the Sydney Test being the guy out there to bowl fast and be aggressive … has helped.

“When the ball starts coming out where you want it and consistently, you have more of that confidence in yourself and that probably came out through the Test in my body language.”

Starc has rarely played back-to-back Tests during his up and down 15-match career, but he says getting consistent starts is his responsibility alone.

“It comes back to myself and taking those opportunities when I get them,” he said.

“Over the past five days I’ve probably taken those opportunities more than I have in the past.”

Meanwhile, veteran opener Chris Rogers has been selected to replace the injured Mike Hussey as captain of the Australian Prime Minister’s XI to play the touring England side in a one-dayer in Canberra on Wednesday.