Mackay [Australia], August 23 (ANI): Following his side’s win over Bangladesh at Mackay, veteran Australian pacer Mitchell Starc spoke on his longevity in Test cricket, saying that he will “milk his body” as much as he can for the longer format and expressed his readiness for the South Africa Tour in September-October.
Starc, 36, continued delivering peak performances for Australia, securing yet another ‘Player of the Series’ award after the West Indies tour and the Ashes series at home. After an embarrassing loss at Darwin, Starc’s ten-wicket haul, including a quick six-wicket haul in the first innings, was in itself a massive indication of the vengeance that the Aussie players had in their mind after losing on their home turf.
Starc won the ‘Player of the Series’ award for 12 wickets in two matches and is the leading wicket-taker in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle, with 58 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 16.98, with a four-fer and four five-wicket hauls. He also entered the top ten Test wicket-takers of all time during the match, surpassing South Africa’s Dale Steyn.
Speaking about his longevity after the match, Starc said, “I thoroughly enjoy being part of this group. Test cricket, I have said it before, Tests will always be the pinnacle for me and later on when we get to sing the song and he (Nathan Lyon) is leading it, that is one of the main reasons why we like to do it, love to do it. So, yeah, I would like to milk my body for all I can for Test cricket.”
The left-armer said that while Bangladesh played really well and nothing can be taken away from them, Australia had a much better week on the field.
“What we expect from ourselves this week is what we got, particularly with the ball on a wicket that aided us with the ball. So, yeah, one-all series, but a much better week for us,” he added.
Speaking on entering top ten Test wicket-takers, he said, “I do not know yet. I am still playing. Nathan (Lyon) did remind me that I have just stepped on the first rung of the ladder and he is still up there looking down on me. So, still got a way to go.”
Speaking on the upcoming white-ball series in South Africa, the ODIs starting from September 24 before the Tests in October, he said, ” There is a couple of white-ball series before those Test matches in Africa. So I will just get told what I am doing and will pack the bag accordingly. Passport ready to go.”
After a dismal all-round performance led to Australia’s first-ever loss to Bangladesh on their home soil, the bowling group, particularly Starc, responded with vengeance and trademark Aussie fire, not allowing Bangladesh to cross the 100-run mark in either innings and won the match by an innings and 51 runs. Australia’s flaws with the bat, however, continue to persist, and the team would want them addressed ahead of the Test series in South Africa in October.
Australia won the toss and opted to field first. Starc unleashed his fury on Bangladesh batters, getting his five-wicket haul in the first seven overs and reducing Bangladesh to 12/5. Starc’s fifer was a special one as four of five batters got out for a duck. He got some assistance from skipper Pat Cummins (3/25). Bangladesh was 39/9, but avoided the embarrassment of being bowled out for their lowest Test score (their lowest score being 43), as Shoriful Islam (14) emerged as their top-scorer.
With four batters touching double digits, Bangladesh was cleaned up for 64, with Starc (6/12 in 10 overs) bowling yet another legendary spell, entering the top ten Test wicket-takers by overtaking Dale Steyn.
In their first innings, Australia was reduced to 41/3, but Steve Smith (42 in 74 balls, with six fours) and Cameron Green did some repair work with a 77-run stand. However, after Starc, it was another left-arm pacer, Shoriful Islam, who did the damage. He reduced the Aussies to 148/8. Cameron Green (67 in 105 balls, with 10 fours) and Nathan Lyon (32 in 62 balls, with four boundaries and a six) played important knocks to take Australia past the 200-run mark.
Australia was skittled out for 210 at the start of day two, with Shoriful (7/48) recording the best-ever figures by a Bangladesh bowler away from home. Australia led by 146 runs.
In their second innings, Bangladesh was skittled out for just 95 runs, with the trio of Starc (4/39), Cummins (3/10) and Nathan Lyon (3/25) running rampant on Bangladesh.
Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto (31 in 46 balls, with six fours) and Mushfiqur Rahim’s (29* in 80 balls, with three fours) put on a 27-run stand for the fourth wicket was the highest point of Bangladesh’s batting, as they collapsed from 51/3 to 95 all out. (ANI)
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