Mitchell Starc's 3 best bowling spells in Tests vs India ft. BGT 2024-25
Mitchell Starc breathed fire in the first innings on the opening day of the second Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 Test at Adelaide on December 6. The left-arm pacer was on song right from the word go as he dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal on the very first ball of the match, setting the tone for the hosts.
Australia managed to bowl India out for just 180 runs in the first innings and Mitchell Starc led the charge, registering his best-ever figures in an innings in Tests against India. Making apt use of the conditions and the pink ball, Starc showed no mercy as he ran through the Indian batting line-up.
Prior to this innings, Starc had never picked up a five-wicket haul against India in Tests and with the hosts being 0-1 down after their defeat at Perth, there could bave been no better occasion for the Aussie quick to unleash his best performance against the visitors with the ball.
On that note, here are Mitchell Starc's three best bowling spells in Tests against India.
Mitchell Starc's 3 best bowling spells in Tests vs India
#3 3/40 at Adelaide 2018
The first Test during India's tour of Australia in 2018 was played in Adelaide. In the first innings, India managed to score 250 runs and Mitchell Starc returned with figures of 2/63 from 19 overs.
The hosts bowled India out for 307 in their second innings and were set a target of 323 runs. Australia fell short and were bowled out for 291 as India won the Test by 31 runs. However, Starc put up a better display with the ball in the second innings, picking up three wickets and giving away just 40 runs from 21.5 overs at an economy-rate of 1.83.
His dismissals included those of Murali Vijay at the top, along with Ravichandran Ashwin and Ishant Sharma at the backend of the innings.
#2 4/53 at Adelaide 2020
When India returned to tour Australia in 2020/21, the first Test of the series was also played at Adelaide and was a day-night game. The visitors batted first and were bowled out for 244 runs in the first innings.
Mitchell Starc was the pick of the bowlers for the hosts, grabbing four wickets. Starc bowled 21 overs and gave away only 53 runs, keeping it tight with an economy-rate of 2.52. His figures of 4/53 was his best spell against India in Tests back then.
Starc accounted for the key wickets or Prithvi Shaw, sending him for a duck, along with Ajinkya Rahane and Wriddhiman Saha. He also dismissed Umesh Yadav later on to complete a four-wicket haul.
#1 6/48 at Adelaide 2024
Adelaide has been a successful venue for Mitchell Starc, particularly against India. His previous best performance against them in Tests came at the same venue. This time around, in the ongoing second Test, he registered his best-ever bowling figures against India in Tests.
Starc dismissed Jaiswal on the very first delivery of the game and was on absolute fire, troubling the Indian batters more often than not. He picked up his maiden five-wicket haul against India in Tests, returning with impressive figures of 6/48 as Australia bowled out the visitors for just 180 runs.
Apart from Jaiswal, he picked up some big wickets including those of Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Nitish Reddy. Starc also dismissed Ashwin and Harshit Rana to wrap up his best bowling spell in Tests against the visitors.