Mitchell Starc’s scintillating performance with the pink ball led Australia to a dominant 10-wicket victory over India in the Adelaide Test, leveling the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at 1-1 ahead of the third match in Brisbane. Starc’s career-best figures of 6-48 in the first innings dismantled the Indian batting lineup, with his fiery spell setting the tone for Australia’s comeback.
Jaiswal’s Sledge Backfires
Starc’s performance began in explosive fashion as he trapped opener Yashasvi Jaiswal LBW with the very first delivery of the Test. This set the stage for a dominant display, with Starc also dismissing KL Rahul and Virat Kohli in quick succession.
According to former Australian captain Ricky Ponting, Starc’s intensity in Adelaide was partly fueled by a verbal exchange with Jaiswal during the Perth Test. Jaiswal, who had scored a match-winning century in Perth, had reportedly remarked that Starc’s deliveries weren’t “quick enough.”
“Mitchell Starc is a pretty level-headed guy, but if someone says something, he’ll often respond with a smile on his face,” Ponting said on the ICC Review show. “That smile might just be a mask for the fire burning inside. And in Adelaide, he bowled beautifully, didn’t he?”
Australia’s Bounce-Back Performance
Ponting praised Australia for their emphatic response after their defeat in Perth, highlighting the contributions of the senior players. “This is exactly the kind of bounce-back you’d expect from the Australian team,” he said. “Senior players like Starc and Pat Cummins had to step up, and they did.”
He further added, “Starc’s first-ball wicket of Jaiswal, who had scored 160 in the previous innings, really set the tone for the entire Test. It was the kind of start Australia needed, and they capitalized on it brilliantly.”
Focus Shifts to Brisbane
With the series now level, Ponting emphasized the importance of Australia maintaining their momentum in the upcoming Test at the Gabba. “They’ve got the job done in Adelaide, but they need to replicate that performance in Brisbane. The senior players will need to step up again,” he concluded.
The third Test between Australia and India begins on December 14 at the Gabba, promising another thrilling chapter in this fiercely contested series.
