Adelaide: Australian pacer Mitchell Starc has been hailed as a “pink ball magician” by former cricketer Matthew Hayden, while India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate lauded his unmatched ability to dominate with the pink ball in the day-night Test format. Starc’s six-wicket haul on the opening day of the second Test in Adelaide showcased his brilliance, leaving Indian batters struggling to decode his swing and precision.
Starc’s standout deliveries included dismissing Yashasvi Jaiswal with the very first ball and an impeccable inswinger that uprooted Ravichandran Ashwin’s stumps. Hayden was impressed by Starc’s ability to maintain aggressive swing well into the 40th over, calling it a rare spectacle. He highlighted Starc’s mastery of the scrambled seam delivery and his knack for swinging the pink ball even under challenging conditions. “He wrestled back momentum in a way only he can, delivering a stellar performance with that beautiful pink ball,” Hayden remarked on Star Sports.
Ryan ten Doeschate echoed similar sentiments, singling out Ashwin’s dismissal as a testament to Starc’s genius. “When a batter is forced to guess on both sides due to such precise swing, it becomes extremely challenging. Starc’s execution today was top-notch, and his confidence with the pink ball clearly sets him apart,” he stated during the post-match conference.
Starc’s ability to manipulate the pink ball under lights continues to make him a formidable force in day-night Tests, further cementing his reputation as one of the premier swing bowlers in the world.
