Watch: Mitchell Starc Sizzles Western Australia with Hat-Trick on Ashes 2017-18 Preparations
Apr 6, 2019 at 2:09 PM
Australia fast-bowling spearhead Mitchell Starc has warmed-up by claiming a sensational hat-trick while representing New South Wales Blues-led by Steven Smith, in the second round of the JLT Sheffield Shield competition against Western Australia at Hurstville Oval in Sydney.
With Starc and Hazlewood ready to share the new ball for the Ashes, the former has already sent a warning to the Three Lions after ripping through Western Australia tail-enders.
The 27-year-old speedster Starc, who’s returned to the cricket field, in a bid to prepare with full preparation for the impending Ashes series which will kick off with the opener on November 23.
Known for his toe-crushing yorkers, Starc has recovered from the foot injury during the long layoff from the gentleman’s game and is further hopeful of frightening England batsmen in the series Down Under owing to vicious pace and bounce.
The exulted Sydney-born bowler Starc, who has been marred by injury in the recent past, bowled Simon Mackin’s to claim his hat-trick after rattling Jason Behrendorff and trapping David Mood in front of the stumps – to see on-field umpire raising the dreaded finger.
Behrendorff received a peach of a delivery from the left-arm sensation when the former was batting on 20 before Moody was dismissed on a duck alongside Mackin.
Earlier in the day, on a very second ball of the from Starc saw Jonathan Wells walked off the park after scoring-a-run when he was caught by gloveman Peter Nevill, who is also one of the contenders for a wicket-keeping role in Ashes squad for the hosts.
Banking on his strength, Starc made things miserable for the batsmen which further saw Warriors finished his bowling figures with four for 56 in 20 overs.
Starc sent down six maidens as he was the only bowler, who conceded two-wide and a solitary no-ball which conceding runs at the economy of 2.80.
On the other side, Starc’s bowling partner Josh Hazlewood claimed three wickets after giving away 24 runs in 13 overs.
Continuing to be in a red-hot form, Starc previously appeared in March against India while donning the white jersey for Australia, before featuring in the ICC Champions Trophy in England and Wales.
Owing to the deficit of 94 runs in the four-day fixture, Warriors side was bundled out for 176 after Blues posted 270 runs on board in their first innings.
So far, in three Shield innings, Starc claimed 14 wickets at an impressive average of 12.5.
In the first round, Starc bagged ten wickets after conceding 119 runs which included his splendid bowling figures of 8 for 73, in the second innings against South Australia at Adelaide.
Moreover, 17 days until the Ashes will be beginning Australian Vice-captain David Warner is also representing Blues side which further includes Pat Cummins and quality off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who will be the first choice for the Cricket Australia selection at the culmination of three rounds of the domestic competition.
At the stumps of day three, following the inclement weather, Blues posted 166 for two in 47 overs.
VIDEO OF THE DAY:
Smith was batting on 74 off 121 alongside Kurtis Patterson, who scored 116-ball 60 – to help the side to lead by 260 runs in second innings.
Watch here how Starc celebrated his hat-trick against Mitchell Marsh’s Western Australia:
So… Mitchell Starc just did THIS in the Sheffield Shield 😳
Just 17 days until the #Ashes pic.twitter.com/bEUCzeqykt
— Cricket Network (@CricketNetwork) November 6, 2017