Mitchell Starc back in rhythm with six wickets on Shield Cricket return before Border Gavaskar series

Mitchell Starc (X Photo) (1)

Mitchell Starc made a strong return to first-class cricket by taking six wickets for New South Wales against Victoria in Melbourne on Monday. Starc’s performance marked his re-entry into the game after some time away and is seen as a positive sign for Australian cricket.
During the second innings, Starc achieved figures of six for 81 in 17.5 overs, dismissing players including Ashley Chandrasinghe, Marcus Harris, Campbell Kellaway, Sam Elliott, Fergus O’Neill, and Todd Murphy.
Mitchell Starc, currently the third leading wicket-taker in the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, is preparing to challenge Indian batters in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar series. Meanwhile, India will aim for a third consecutive Test series victory in Australia.
In the 2023-25 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, Starc has secured 48 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 28.37, with his best figures being 5/78. He has also taken four four-wicket hauls and one five-wicket haul in this period, making him the joint third-highest wicket-taker alongside Pat Cummins.
The leading bowlers in this WTC cycle are Ravichandran Ashwin with 59 wickets and Josh Hazlewood with 51 wickets.
Mitchell Starc eyes milestones in upcoming Border Gavaskar series
Australian cricketer Mitchell Starc is set to participate in a crucial Test series against India and Sri Lanka. Starc is currently aiming to achieve notable milestones, including reaching 400 Test wickets and 700 international wickets. So far, he has claimed 358 wickets in 89 Test matches and a total of 678 wickets in 279 international matches.
Starc’s performance will be crucial as Australia looks to counter India’s batting lineup. The series is set to spark intense competition between the two cricketing nations.
The highly anticipated Border Gavaskar series will begin on November 22.
The Border-Gavaskar series holds significant importance, with both teams gearing up for a competitive showdown to qualify for World Test Championship final.