Australia v South Africa Test series: Mitchell Starc ends long run drought to help Australia's tail wag

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This was published 7 years ago

Australia v South Africa Test series: Mitchell Starc ends long run drought to help Australia's tail wag

By Andrew Wu
Updated

Mitchell Starc has scored the first half-century by an Australian bowler in more than 15 months as Australia posted their biggest first-innings total in close to a year.

It's still far too early to say Australia's batting crisis is over but their performance in Adelaide so far has renewed optimism for the future.

The improved efforts of the top six was backed up by a wagging tail. If the sight of Australian bowlers scoring runs seemed unfamiliar, there's good reason for that – it's been a while.

Australian fans had become accustomed to seeing the likes of Shane Warne, Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson eke out valuable scores in the lower order but more recently the bowlers have not been able to cover for the failure of their batsmen.

Back in the runs: Mitchell Starc sets off during his innings of 53 in Adelaide.

Back in the runs: Mitchell Starc sets off during his innings of 53 in Adelaide.Credit: Getty Images

And nor should they be condemned for that though it would have made the team a lot more competitive than it has been.

Saturday was only the second time Australia have added more than 100 runs for the final four wickets since last year's day/night fixture in Adelaide.

They were not needed at all against the West Indies and played a minimal role in the tour of New Zealand but failed to fire at all in Sri Lanka. In fact, there was only one innings where the last four wickets yielded more than 50 runs.

Jackson Bird's lack of prowess with the bat was a reason why the regular No.11 was controversially left out from the squad for the first two Tests this series

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Spearhead: Mitchell Starc follows up his half century with the wicket of Dean Elgar.

Spearhead: Mitchell Starc follows up his half century with the wicket of Dean Elgar.Credit: Getty Images

Starc's return among the runs was timely, no doubt helped by a top six that for the first time in four months held their end of the bargain. He arrived at the crease with Australia in front though looking shaky against the second new ball.

Without his contribution of 53, South Africa could have reduced their lead to something more manageable. His ability to stick around with Usman Khawaja enabled Australia to stretch their first-innings advantage to 124, which could prove vital given how difficult batting has been under the lights against a new ball.

Khawaja, whose near eight-hour vigil ended on 145, was also able to continue batting conventionally, confident that Starc could at least hold up an end.

Although Starc's main job is to take wickets, his batting will become increasingly important with such an inexperienced middle order.

The last time an Australian bowler reached 50 was in the final Test of last year's Ashes when Starc smashed 58 of 52 balls.

However, he is more than just a slogger and with a little tightening of his technique has the potential to be as reliable at No.8 as Johnson was for Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke.

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With a highest score of 99, Starc is no slouch at all with the willow but has found the going difficult in 2016, managing only 86 runs at less than 10.

Being injured for much of the year will not have helped the left-hander though this could provide a spark for him to rediscover his best.

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