Mitchell Starc reveals how pickle juice has helped fight cramps in harsh conditions
IN the face of oppressive conditions and debilitating cramps, Mitchell Starc has started on a savoury new regimen to help deliver Australia the breakthrough they need against Pakistan.
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MITCHELL Starc has revealed how bottles of pickle juice stowed away in Travis Head’s pocket helped him conquer debilitating cramps in the Arab desert.
Cricket Australia shipped in a crate of shot-sized pickle juice bottles for the start of the tour and they will be used by Australia’s bowlers to help survive two weeks in oppressive conditions.
Debutant Head kept a secret supply for Starc in his pocket as the big fast bowler rallied through an agonising last hour on day one where both his calves and groins seized up with severe cramp.
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The pickle juice is a new measure for fighting cramp introduced by medical staff since the side struggled in oppressive conditions in Bangladesh last year.
But the potion couldn’t deliver Australia the breakthroughs they needed before lunch on day two, with Pakistan going to the break in the powerful position of 4-329.
The partnership of Haris Sohail (46 not out) and Asad Shafiq (43no) decided to take on spin twins Nathan Lyon and Jon Holland and piled on 74 runs in the first session.
Siddle struck for a wicket in just the fifth over of day two to overtake fellow Victorian great Merv Hughes on Australia’s all-time list.
But Australia desperately needed more and getting rid of the nightwatchman Mohammad Abas did not release the tourists from their long sentence in the field.
Australia’s bowlers all lost up to 3.5kg in the Dubai sun on day one, but Starc and Peter Siddle charged back in to bowl the opening overs on day two against Pakistan.
Starc was battling in the 38 degree heat but fought to the bitter end after turning to the sodium rich pickle juice in a bid to get through his first Test series since March.
The worst of it may be yet to come for Australia, but already Justin Langer’s focus on fitness appears to be coming to the fore.
Usman Khawaja shed 7kg in the off-season and moved well in the field on Monday. Aaron Finch is another Australian star to drop 7kg in body weight.
Starc spent Sunday night in ice baths and arrived to the ground wearing compression socks — but said pickle juice was the new tonic for a fit Australian team.
“(I had) a lot of pickle juice,” Starc told Fox Cricket.
“Travis Head looked after me, he had a couple of bottles in his pocket for me.
“It’s only come in in recent times, it’s supposed to help stop the cramps coming on. Unfortunately they were already coming on for me.
“I had to try and prolong it a little bit but cramps in both the calves and groins wasn’t fun.
“I had a good night’s sleep, some rest and hopefully there will be some wickets this morning.
“It was test cricket. A bit of a struggle and a fight on our hands but way we came back in with some late rewards and restricting the scoring was really all we were after on a pretty docile wicket.”
Siddle hasn’t played Test cricket for two years and admits returning to add to his wicket tally, now 213 and counting, is a dream he thought may not be realised.
During his last stint in the Australian team, Siddle struggled to stay on the park due to injury and at times seemed to struggle in the heat on home flat decks.
But Siddle’s reputation as a lion-hearted performer has prevailed.
“It’s nearly 10 years to the day since I went on my first tour with Australia, so to see these young boys getting presented their caps and the excitement they had in the lead-up, it’s been exciting for me not just being around the group but seeing them up and about, and getting another opportunity,” he said.
“I’ve always dreamed of playing for Australia again in the last few years, but I’ve concentrated on just performing wherever I played.
“Today was a nice reward for the time I’ve put in off the park and all the other teams I’ve played for in the last 18 months to get back out there and pull on the baggy green, and walk out there with those three guys starting their journey.”
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