Re-live Mitchell Starc’s ‘ball of the 21st century’ as England crumble

How does one get bat on a 144km/h legspinner? The answer, according to James Vince, is you simply don’t.

Channel 9 graphic of Mitchell Starc's unplayable delivery to remove James Vince for 55 on Day 4 of the Third Test. Picture: Supplied

If the WACA is to go out after this Ashes Test it has done so with a trademark memorable moment.

That the moment belonged to Australia’s current quickest and deadliest pace bowler in Mitchell Starc was fitting. After all, the volatile, quick and bouncy pitch was for so long the home of all-time great Dennis Lillee and has played host to menacing pace bowlers for 44 Tests, since its inception as a venue in December of 1970.

Starc may have skittled James Vince’s off stump with a ball that moved so far it was akin to a ripping Shane Warne leg-break of yesteryear, albeit about 50km/h quicker, but the assist had to go to a big crack in the WACA wicket.

That's just absurd #Ashes pic.twitter.com/TtkEDPjbJH

— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 17, 2017

Charging in left-arm around the wicket Starc pitched the ball on a length, hitting a crack that may have simply swallowed up the late and great Tony Greig’s key, had he have inserted it, then somehow straightened down the line to remove Vince’s off stump.

Vince played well inside the ball and could do little but stand in front of the stumps, perplexed at how off went cartwheeling when the ball should have missed leg.

'Every time you look at that delivery, it just gets better and better' #Ashes pic.twitter.com/ED9xzRCYsR

— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 17, 2017

It’s a look England’s cricket fans had seen before. Most notably on the face of Mike Gatting in 1993 when Shane Warne’s first ball in Test cricket in England, spun from outside leg to clip off stump. Fittingly it would be called “the ball of the century”.

"The Ball of the Century"

The name given to this delivery bowled by Australia's @ShaneWarne to England's Mike Gatting.

Taking it back to the 1993 #Ashes series for your viewing pleasure this evening! pic.twitter.com/LJV1A3OhKH

— The Cricket Pavilion (@thecricpavilion) November 13, 2017

And it didn’t take long for the comparisons to start. Warne called Starc’s effort the ball of the Ashes, before former England skipper Michael Vaughan took it further, proclaiming Starc’s to be “the ball of the 21st century.”

In truth there is little to compare. Warne’s delivery was pure brilliance, Starc’s required the pitch to do the work. Vince simply knew he’d been done by an absolute jaffa.

“If I face that another 20 or 30 times, I think it would get me out every time,” Vince said.

Australian paceman Josh Hazlewood says Starc has the chance to repeat the feat on Monday by staying around the wicket to England’s right-handers.

“It’s hitting that crack and it’s probably heading down leg more often than not,” Hazlewood said.

“But you only need a couple to straighten off that, and you’re in the game. It was a pretty special ball.

“I’d love five or six more tomorrow.”

For Australia Monday provides the opportunity, if the weather holds out, to reclaim the Ashes with an unassailable 3-0 lead and another famous moment at the WACA ground.

With AAP