Mitchell Starc was the lone shining point for the Australian team on an otherwise disastrous day two of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Galle. The left-arm pacer picked up a historic 10-wicket haul as he became the first Australian pacer to achieve the magnificent feat in Sri Lanka.
Starc, who claimed 5-44 on day one of the match , took another six on day two to complete his first 10-wicket haul in Tests as the hosts were bowled out for 237 – leaving the tourists requiring an improbable 413 to level the series.
Starc, who finished with match figures of 11-94, also became just the fourth Australian pacer in history to take a 10-wicket haul in an Asia – and the first since Geoff Dymock managed the feat against India in October 1979. The other two Australians to achieve the feat are Alan Davidson, who took 12-124 against India in Kanpur in December 1959, and Garth McKenzie, who claimed 10-91 against India in Chennai in October 1964.
Let us see how the twitterati reacted to Starc’s brilliant performance:
Mitchell Starc takes 11 wickets on a Ground that assists so much for spinners also he is the first fast bowler to take 10 wickets at Galle..
— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) August 5, 2016
Chris Woakes can welcome Mitchell Starc to the 'take 11 wickets and lose the Test' club
— Chris Stocks (@StocksC_cricket) August 5, 2016
Mitchell Starc's Landmark Test:
First Ball wicket..
Five wicket Haul..
Completed 100 Wickets..
First time 10 wicket haul in Tests..— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) August 5, 2016
Before this Test, Mitchell Starc's bowling average was 30.08. Currently it is 27.88 after picking 11 wickets in this match. #SLvAUS
— Nikhil Mane ??? (@nikhiltait) August 5, 2016
https://twitter.com/WillHillAus/status/761522244904378369
https://twitter.com/fish_styx/status/761521942306312192
https://twitter.com/JPHowcroft/status/761531219775332352
1st innings: 16-7-44-5
2nd innings: 12-1-50-6
Match Haul: 28-8-94-11The beast unleashing itself on test cricket now! Mitch Starc! #SLvsAus
— Srini Mama (@SriniMama16) August 5, 2016
Mitchell Starc's 11-94 best match figures by Aust Test quick on subcontinent since Alan Davidson's 12-124 v India at Kanpur 1959 #SLvAUS
— Andrew Ramsey (@ARamseyCricket) August 5, 2016
Mitchell Starc has been Australia's biggest hero racking up wickets aplenty on spin friendly comditions..
— Rajiv (@skrajiv) August 5, 2016
Thank god for Mitchell Starc he's the only that can hold his head high on this tour #SLvAUS
— PaddyDillon (@Paddydillon2011) August 5, 2016
#CTTrivia
Mitchell Starc is one of the best fast bowlers in the world pic.twitter.com/g76rGNXp2q— Crictoday (@crictoday) August 5, 2016