Australian pacer Mitchell Starc is happy with the way they bowled on the morning session of Day 3 to restrict the England team for 325 runs in the 1st innings and their batters’ performance in the 2nd innings so far in the game. The Left arm pacer bowled brilliantly to pick up the important wickets of Joe Root, Harry Brook, and Jonny Bairstow in the 1st innings.
The Australian team is well on top at the end of Day 3, as they lead the 2nd innings by 221 runs with eight wickets on their hand, with Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith remaining for the Aussies on Day 3. They will look to extend the lead on Day 4 to give them the best chances to win the game and take a 2-0 lead over the home side in Lord’s.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Mitchell Starc ruined the opportunity to extend the lead as the rain stopped the play on Day 3 and was happy with their team’s bowling on Day 3 to quickly wrap up England’s innings and lauded their batters for calm and composed innings so far in the 2nd innings and feels that Ben Stokes-led side got long tail in the absence of Moeen Ali, which they capitalized to restrict the England team after their blistering start with the bat.
“It’s a shame it finished early today but it was a really positive morning for us to bowl them out and have a bit of a lead. Our top order capitalized on that early, there was some good bowling, and pressure built, but our guys got through that. Building on that lead is a positive position to be in,” Mitchell Starc said.
“Obviously, they’ve got a bit of a longer tail with Moeen [Ali] not playing. We knew if we could take a couple early and get some inroads into their tail, things could go the way they did. We were fortunate it did go that way. If we hadn’t, there was the chance of a big partnership so a positive morning for us,” Mitchell Starc added.
Australia made a tough decision going into the 1st game series as they preferred to go with Boland and Hazlewood in place of Mitchell Starc, who is known for his reverse swing in the later part of the match, but brought for the second test, as he contributed to the team with three wickets in the 1st innings.
Disappointing For Him And Us, He’s A Quality Performer – Mitchell Starc
Mitchell Starc admitted that Nathan Lyon‘s injury is not looking good at the moment and hailed him for playing 100 consecutive for the Aussies in the longer format of the game and added that it is a big loss for the team going forward, as he performed well for the team in tough situations.
“He’s not looking in too much comfort at the minute which is a shame. He’s been quite robust getting in the team for us, obviously 100 Tests in a row. Hopefully, it’s not a long one. Whether he’s back in the series, I don’t know. He’s on crutches at the minute. Disappointing for him and us, he’s a quality performer,” Mitchell Starc added.
The Australian spinner sustained an injury trying to chase down the ball on the Day 2 of the second test, as he walked out of the field in pain. It is reported Star Spinner will not be able to participate further in the series due to the calf injury.