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[PICTURES/VIDEOS] Do you think Mitchell Starc has underachieved in Test cricket?

Majestic

Tape Ball Regular
Joined
Jan 18, 2018
Runs
489
No doubt, he performed really well in first test in SA. However given the talent he has, do you think he has underachieved in test format?

He could have done better than what he has done till now.
 
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Yes but this is when compared to his odis achievement. The issue with him is not being consistent in terms of line and length.
 
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Uhhmmm no. With the current pitches he has done very well.

Not many active pacers have such a record.
 
Yes. He has not achieved the ideal line and length as a 6'5 fast bowler. Goes either too full or short which works in ODI's but not Test cricket.
 
He's 28 years old and has 179 wickets at 26. He's going to achieve a lot more in the next 5 years.
 
Probably hitting his peak years now, so too early to make that statement.
 
I wonder how many of these good bowling spells were a result of ball tampering
 
With or without Sandpaper?

Lets see how he does in the next few years before I make my judgement.
 
Underachieved.

Yes, these kind of pacers dont have a career of 10 years of consistency and neither they do hold on after 30 but he never had the peak of even 3-4 years up till now like Akhtar(let alone Waqar) had which is why I feel he underachieved.

Whatever success he was getting in last one year is also now under question.
 
It’s hard to say that he has underachieved. I know that his odi record is far superior. But, the guy is an impact bowler and has taken wickets in most conditions including in Sri Lanka and Asia. It’s hard for him to be a below 25 average bowler, as he often attacks and can go for plenty of runs.
 
His stats are on par with Neil Wagner as JunaidS pointed out, Wagner may even have more top order wickets
 
He's a perfect 3rd seamer in my opinion. He would be the final missing piece in an ATG attack.
Imagine Steyn and Rabada opening the bowling together, should the opposition survive the early onslaught having a guy like Starc running in with a reversing ball would be a sight to behold.

Having someone who can take the last 5/4 wickets under 60/50 runs consistently would be amazing for any attack. Yes he might get bashed for "bullying" the tail by cynics, but his country men and purist would appreciate him more. It's how SA won the number 1 ranking in England 2012. It's how Australia always beat us as well, a wagging tail. In fact it's how we beat Australia for the first time in Australia as well. A wagging tail is very dangerous these days.
 
Think of the 2009 England tour of SA as well, how valuable would a guy like Starc be?

That series is a typical example why that SA team was never great.
 
Massively underachieved in Tests. His average is actually buttressed by the fact that he's fantastic at attacking the tail. But he really struggles to make his mark with the new ball. I would guess that his wickets are heavily biased towards lower order batsman.

Add in the questions that exist around the insane amounts of reverse that he seemed to generate in light of the ball tampering issue too!
 
He will do good , will not be at the same level as OD , but still would be pretty good.
 
Underachieved. The reason for that is he is always looking to bowl the yorker. He needs to adjust his length slightly.

I back him to come good in tests.
 
Top bowler

Wonder when pakistan will get a pacer who will reach even 200 scalps again. Never mind 300 or 400 or 500.

Only one is shaheen but even he is regressing pretty quickly in red ball cricket got outbowled by the age fudging taxi driver jamal.
 
Love how he is prioritizing test cricket.

Meanwhile, Amir sold Pakistan for a few pounds and than when he was bought back, he choose t20 over test cricket.

The difference between someone who plays for his nation and someone that will do anything for a few pounds
 
Love how he is prioritizing test cricket.

Meanwhile, Amir sold Pakistan for a few pounds and than when he was bought back, he choose t20 over test cricket.

The difference between someone who plays for his nation and someone that will do anything for a few pounds
Agreed... Aussies and mostly England always prioritize longer formats because they know they can only improve if they play longer formats, and money was never their preference anyway.
 
Australia’s pace spearhead Mitchell Starc produced a sensational spell in the first Ashes Test at Perth, claiming three early England wickets and reaching a landmark 100 wickets in Ashes cricket.

Starc became the 21st bowler in Ashes history to reach the 100-wicket milestone and only the 13th Australian to do so. It took him 23 Tests to achieve the feat, highlighting his consistency and impact.
 
He is way ahead than anybody else in terms of taking wickets in day/night test matches. He will be a real threat for England in the second test at Gabba which will be a day/night test match.

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Love how he is prioritizing test cricket.

Meanwhile, Amir sold Pakistan for a few pounds and than when he was bought back, he choose t20 over test cricket.

The difference between someone who plays for his nation and someone that will do anything for a few pounds
Amir and Wahab retired for the all important aussie tour down under , such a hypocrite..
 
Love how he is prioritizing test cricket.

Meanwhile, Amir sold Pakistan for a few pounds and than when he was bought back, he choose t20 over test cricket.

The difference between someone who plays for his nation and someone that will do anything for a few pounds
Add to that, the number of years he opted out of IPL deliberately to keep himself fresh and injury free in international cricket.​
 
Starc's success is proof that you cannot play every lallu panju league if you have to stay on top.. Starc giving all his time to Test cricket is like a fresh freeze.
 
Great bowler across all the formats. Not accurate like Hazlewood and Cummins, but his pace and swing did the job for him.
 
Mitch Starc equals Wasim Akram’s record of 414 Test wickets. Absolutely legendary.
 
Starcy has got another fifer now... 6 wickets for him so far in the 1st inning
 
In the last 50 years the Aussies pacers I rate ahead of him are

Mcgrath
Lillee
Cummins
Hazlewood
Gillespie

He has surpassed Johnson, Mcdermott and Hughes.
 
Starc is the 2nd greatest Aussie pacer of all time. Only behind McGrath. :inti
Not even close. Top 3 is undeniable - McGrath, Lillee, Cummins.

Quality wise, Hazelwood and Gillespie are better but missed a lot of crucial games in their test career.

I have not even bothered counting pre 70s - the likes of Lindwall and Davidson.
 
In the last 50 years the Aussies pacers I rate ahead of him are

Mcgrath
Lillee
Cummins
Hazlewood
Gillespie

He has surpassed Johnson, Mcdermott and Hughes.
Interestingly Scyld Berry put Johnson ahead of Starc in his list of top left armes of all time.

From your list, I don't rate Gillespie ahead of Starc.
 
Interestingly Scyld Berry put Johnson ahead of Starc in his list of top left armes of all time.

From your list, I don't rate Gillespie ahead of Starc.
Maybe after the current Ashes, his view would have changed.
 

ICC Men’s Player of the Month for December 2025 announced​


Mitchell Starc was awarded the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for December 2025 after leading Australia’s pace attack during their stellar Ashes series victory at home.

The Australian beat two other impressive performers in West Indies’ Justin Greaves who scored his maiden double hundred against New Zealand at Christchurch and Jacob Duffy who bagged 25 wickets in the Black Caps’ 2-0 series victory over West Indies.

Starc was proud to have won the honour on the back of a successful home Ashes win.

“It’s an honour to be named the ICC Player of the Month, and even more special that it came on the back of such a successful home Ashes. To have played a part in winning such an iconic series in front of our home crowd is something we will all relish for a long time,” Starc said.

“As a team we’ve had some outstanding performances in the last few years. The focus now is on building that momentum towards a place in next year’s ICC World Test Championship Final,” he added.

The 35-year-old bowler entered the month on the back of picking up ten wickets in Australia’s win over England in the first Ashes Test match at Perth and followed that up with eight wickets in Brisbane to start December on a strong note.

He then played a solid support role to other Australian bowlers picking up four wickets each in the following two Test matches at Adelaide and Melbourne to finish the month with 16 wickets.

ICC
 
I thought after sandpaper his career was over and his stats would decline but fair play to him.
 
Minus his record against India, i think he has done well against every other team. His only blemish will be his lack of impact against India at home in 2018 and 2021.
 
Minus his record against India, i think he has done well against every other team. His only blemish will be his lack of impact against India at home in 2018 and 2021.

One or two bad series can happen.

A player should be judged by all series and all factors combined.
 
One or two bad series can happen.

A player should be judged by all series and all factors combined.

Ofcourse but the question remains why does India have a better record against him vs the other teams? Is it because they have faced him the most in the IPL and Billateral series, it will be a blemish on his record if he doesn't put this right, he should end his career with an outstanding series against India at home or in India.
 
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