Australia's pace spearhead marked his return to the Test arena with six wickets for the match against Sri Lanka in Kandy
Starc snares six in sizzling Test return
Mitchell Starc has fired a warning shot to batsmen around the world with four crucial wickets in Sri Lanka’s second innings as the left-armer showed he’s lost none of his trademark pace and swing.
Playing in his first Test since November after undergoing surgery on his ankle, Starc finished with six wickets for the match in the first Test of Australia’s Qantas Tour of Sri Lanka.
The New South Welshman struggled at times to find his radar and had issues with his footing on the wearing Pallekele Stadium pitch but showed he still possessed lethal speed and devastating late movement in ample doses.
After picking up 2-51 to help skittle Sri Lanka for 117 in their first-innings, Starc gave Australia the perfect end to day two of the series-opener when he trapped Kusal Perera lbw.
Perera’s unsuccessful review saw him depart for four, as an early stumps was called with the tourists holding an 80-run first-innings lead.
Finishing his over the next morning, Starc struck again in almost identical fashion when Dimuth Karunaratne played all round another fast and full delivery, as the opener wasted Sri Lanka’s second and final review.
Starc toiled away as Kusal Mendis produced a stunning century but his 254-ball stay at the crease was finally ended when Australia’s pace spearhead had him fishing outside off-stump with the new ball, edging one behind to wicketkeeper Peter Nevill for 176.
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The 26-year-old came in for some punishment from some lofty lower-order slogging but he exacted some revenge when mystery spinner Lakshan Sandakan, backing away towards square-leg, somehow managed to deflect a ball going way down the leg-side on to his stumps, with the ball just having enough power to dislodge the bails.
The fiery fast-bowler wasn’t quite back to his frightening best but Starc proved that his injury hasn’t robbed him of any of the blistering pace and dangerously late curve through the air that has seen him become one of the world’s most-feared prospects.