With a beaming grin etched on his face, Mitchell Starc, the principal wicket-taker of the preceding two One-day Men’s World Cups, strode into the post-match press conference. His optimism was well-earned, having just played a pivotal role with the bat to edge out South Africa in a tense run-chase. Despite this crucial contribution, Starc was self-critical, recognizing that his usual prowess as a bowler had not been fully displayed during this World Cup. He expressed gratitude towards his colleagues, including his new-ball partner Josh Hazlewood, for their collective effort that led to the team’s overall success.
“It was probably not the tournament that we would like from the get-go, but it was nice to step up in a big game,” Starc reflected. The capacity for early breakthroughs – powerplay wickets – hadn’t been a hallmark of Australia’s campaign thus far. Nevertheless, in the latest encounter, the team managed to restrict their opponents to 2-18 in the opening powerplay. “The way Josh bowled throughout to finish 2-12 was incredible. Trav (Travis Head) with bat and ball, the way Davey (David Warner) stepped up in the field and led by example…” Starc’s commendation for his teammates was effusive.
He proceeded to shed light on the match’s pitch conditions, noting the unpredictability batters faced. “It was a bare wicket. I’m not sure if it was slightly tougher to start with the bat due to being under covers for some amount of time. There was consistent pace, nipped a little and a little bit of swing, and the inconsistencies made it tough to bat on in the first ten overs.”
Starc expressed substantial praise for Hazlewood, whose impeccable line and length bowling mirrored his Test match quality. “Looking at Joshy’s pitch map, that’s what he does well in Test match bowling,” said Starc, highlighting the duo’s tactical synergy which allowed them to build pressure on South Africa’s openers, eventually leading to mistakes like the one Quinton de Kock made.
Acknowledging the difficulty faced by batters during the first ten overs throughout the tournament, Starc recognized that it took a mixture of audacity and fortune to emulate the aggressive start provided by Travis Head and Warner. This assertive approach relieved some of the stress from the middle and lower orders.
Starc also didn’t shy away from speaking about South Africa’s intermittent bowling prowess, notably their spinners who managed to apply pressure towards the end. He referred to the strategy of getting the likes of Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller out early, thus mitigating their ability to inflict damage in the latter overs of the game.
Speaking on the upcoming final against India, Starc was practical and straightforward. Acknowledging the formidable challenge of facing an unbeaten team, he embraced the reality that no team can clinch the World Cup without overcoming the best side in the tournament. He underscored the familiarity both teams have with significant matches, having clashed in a Test final earlier the same year.
“Both teams played each other in the Test final earlier this year, so I don’t think either change room is new to big occasions,” Starc stated confidently. Touching on the anticipated ambience of the big clash, he concluded optimistically, “It’s going to be loud and passionate, and it’s just going to be a great spectacle, and everyone in our changeroom looks forward to the occasion.”