Ashes 2023: Mitchell Starc discusses stealing a bat and learning how to bowl the wobble seam delivery

After proving the doubters wrong at Headingley, Mitchell Starc has revealed a batting secret and bowling evolution, reports DANIEL CHERNY.

Mitchell Starc has added the wobble seam to his repertoire. Picture: Jan Kruger/Getty Images

Mitchell Starc is a thief.

He stole a bat from another international cricketer.

OK, so it’s worth noting that the victim of this crime is stand-in Australian women’s captain Alyssa Healy. His wife.

Starc confirmed he has been batting during the Ashes with a piece of willow nicked while his missus was away on tour.

“I was cleaning out a few cricket bags at home, she was away on a tour. I said, ‘You know there’s three bats in this bag?’ and she didn’t know. I said, ‘There’s two now, the other’s in my bag’. It’s one-all because she took one of mine a few years ago,” Starc said.

“It’s a little bit lighter. (South Africa’s Anrich) Nortje was bowling pretty fast through the summer, so I used a lighter bat. She didn’t know it was gone, so it was fine.”

Stars said he had to tinker slightly with Healy’s bat to account for their not unsubstantial height difference.

“I put an extra grip on it because the handle is a bit small.”

Mitchell Starc smacks a four with wife Alyssa Healy’s bat. Picture: Paul Ellis/AFP

While Starc is having a hit and miss time of things with the bat at No.8, in his primary role as a bowler he is firing.

After being whacked by India during the World Test Championship final, Starc was again omitted for the Ashes opener at Edgbaston. That came after he played just one of four Tests during the 2019 series on these shores.

The idea that he could not be trusted in UK conditions was gaining momentum.

However, after being recalled for the second Test at Lord’s, Starc has taken 13 wickets in two matches including a five-wicket haul at Headingley on Sunday to almost lead Australia to a series-clinching win.

Starc is a more sophisticated bowler than he was four years ago. He has followed teammates into learning how to bowl wobble seam deliveries, and the results have been there for all to see.

The wobble seasm has brought Mitchell Starc plenty of success in England. Picture: Paul Ellis/AFP

“I‘ve finally listened to Pat (Cummins) and Josh (Hazlewood), I guess. They’re two fantastic exponents of the wobble seam or whatever you want to call it,” Starc said.

“Having spoke to them over the last few years and being able to add that string to my bow is something that’s helped develop my bowling, I guess, and not just be someone who can only swing it or bowl fast, I’ve now got another option to try to beat the bat both ways, or ... it can be a wicket-taking ball depending on who I’m bowling to, or where I’m bowling as well.

“It’s something I’ve definitely spoke to Josh and Pat a lot about, likewise with (coaches) Andrew (McDonald) and Dan Vettori over the last couple of years. It’s nice to get some rewards with it and particularly over here where conditions can sometimes (offer) more off the seam than in the air.”

Alyssa Healy with Mitchell Starc after the ICC World Test Championship final. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

But Starc also reiterated that his success was in large part down to backing his strengths rather than worrying about his weaknesses, which had been a factor in 2019.

“There was a big (focus) on economy rates last time, which plenty of guys spoke about throughout the tour, and we all bought into that and that was something that worked really for us to retain the Ashes then,” Starc said.

“It affected my approach certainly going back to Australia and losing some air speed. It took away from some of my strengths and some of the roles that I play in our attack.

“I wasn‘t going to change that this time and if that meant I didn’t play, so be it. I was going to stick to my strengths and what I bring to the attack rather than trying to be someone like Josh or someone like Pat, because that’s not going to complement the group. ”

Originally published as Ashes 2023: Mitchell Starc discusses stealing a bat and learning how to bowl the wobble seam delivery