Former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull has opened up about Australian pacer Mitchell Starc’s struggles with the ball in the World Cup 2023. Doull highlighted that Starc lacks a consistent back-of-a-length line when the conditions are not favorable. Starc has not had the tournament with his bowling that he hoped for. The left-arm pacer has picked up just 9 wickets in 7 matches at a dismal average of 41 and an economy rate of 6.36.
Mitchell Starc has failed to provide breakthroughs with the new ball throughout the tournament. In a conversation with Cricbuzz, Simon Doull pointed out that Starc did not maintain a consistent line and length. Doull emphasized that Starc simply lacked alternative options when the ball did not behave as expected.
“It just hasn’t been the World Cup that Mitchell Starc was hoping for. On surfaces where the ball isn’t swinging much, Starc lacks the consistent back-of-a-length line and length that bowlers like Hazlewood possess. So he’s pitching it right up, and if it’s not swinging, he’s getting driven. Otherwise, he’s going short or on his slow balls,” said Simon Doull.
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“He doesn’t have the consistent Test-match line and length that Shami has. The top bowlers in this tournament have delivered consistently, and that’s an area of concern for Mitchell Starc. It doesn’t make him a bad bowler; it’s just a matter of having other options when the ball is not doing what you want it to do,” he added.
Doull also praised Australia’s relentless approach to cricket, stating that they have a knack for bouncing back from initial setbacks.
“They attack you, and then they will be relentless when they get that opportunity because that’s what Australia do, and that’s why they’ve won World Cups. They are that sort of side. Everyone was talking about the first couple of games they lost. We’ve seen them go on a run and win five in a row. They are a very, very good side. So, you give them an opportunity, they will take it and they’ll put their foot on your throat under that pressure because that’s what they do,” Simon Doull explained.
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The Pat Cummins-led team started the World Cup 2023 with back-to-back losses against India and South Africa. However, they bounced back to win the next five matches. They need one more win to secure their berth in the semifinals of the marquee tournament in India.
