Starc equals Benaud mark

Richie Benaud presented Mitchell Starc with his first baggy green and the quick has now drawn alongside his mentor with 248 Test wickets

Mitchell Starc celebrates his 248th Test wicket with Travis Head Picture: AFP

Mitchell Starc has moved past West Australian legend Graham McKenzie and is equal with Richie Benaud on Australia’s all-time wicket-taking list after an impressive performance with the ball in the first innings at Adelaide.

Benaud presented Starc with his baggy green in December 2011, an experience the bowler described as overwhelming.

It was a brilliant team performance by the Australian seamers and spinners to restrict India to less than 250.

Starc set the tone when he bowled opener Prithvi Shaw with his second delivery and was just too much for the Indian tail on day two.

Like Mitchell Johnson in the 2012-13 Ashes, he bowls short and fast at tail enders. The Indian lower order looked as if it wanted to be anywhere but in the middle during his spell.

The short ball wasn’t always the one which took the wicket, but it prompted the nervous opposition to hit out at anything in reach.

Starc has 46 wickets from day-night Tests and has made an art of filling his boots at Adelaide.

Starc’s 4-53 took him to a career tally of 248 at an average of 26.75 from his 58 Tests. He is only 11 wickets behind Jason Gillespie (259).

McKenzie finished his career on 246 wickets and was robbed of the chance of getting 250 when he was basically rested from the last two Tests as Australia had a 2-0 lead against an overwhelmed India in 1967-68.

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McKenzie took 10-151 at the MCG in the game before he was put on ice. He retired in 1970-71.

Nathan Lyon is the only active Australian bowler with more wickets than Starc

Lyon’s 391 wickets come as part of a symbiotic partnership between the spinner and the quick.

It is Starc’s big feet which create rough in front of the right handed batsman for Lyon to exploit.

“He’s world class. He’s an X-factor,” Lyon said about his NSW colleague’s performance.

“We all know how good a bowler he is, then you throw a pink ball into his hands and he grows an extra pair of legs.

“He’s exceptional and the way he came back and started, after having some personal leave, was absolutely incredible.”

Starc had a difficult lead in to the Test having to take compassionate leave to be with an ill family member but resolved to join the squad and play.

Coach Justin Langer backed his bowler to perform well before the match.

“He’s very, very determined,” Langer said.

“Often when you go through what he’s going through at the moment it gives you a bit of fire.

“He’s certainly got that look in his eye at the moment.

“A lot of people have written him off before but he keeps coming back and keeps coming and getting better and better and better,” Langer said.

“He‘s world class. Anyone who bowls from his height, his pace and his experience I certainly wouldn’t want to be facing him on Thursday.”