‘Nothing Special’: Mitchell Starc reveals the secret behind Jaiswal’s first-ball dismissal

New Delhi: Australia’s left-arm pacer and star bowler Mitchell Starc has just disclosed how he got Indian opener, Yashasvi Jaiswal out after being hammered in the first Test match in Perth. He said he simply maintained his line and length, aiming to bowl at the stumps and hit the batter’s pads. The trap worked, as he dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal on the very first delivery of the second and pink-ball Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Adelaide. Jaiswal, who arrived in Adelaide after a big hundred in Perth, was sent back for a golden duck.

Starc was the star performer on the Adelaide pitch, delivering outstanding figures of 6/48 to bowl India out for just 180. He made an immediate impact with the first-ball dismissal of Jaiswal and then followed up with key wickets, including those of a well-set KL Rahul and the star Indian batter Virat Kohli.

Starc struck early, dismissing Jaiswal leg-before on the first delivery of the game, giving him a psychological advantage over the visiting batters from the outset.

“At the stumps, hit the pads. That’s it. Nothing special. That’s been my role for a while: to attack the stumps and make early inroads. Pleased to sneak one past today. We know how important it is to make early inroads into this batting lineup,” Starc shared after Day 1’s play.

“It’s always a nice way to start. It’s a big Test, it’s a big series,” Starc said.

Jaiswal, who scored a century in Perth, had been heard on the stump mic teasing Starc about being ‘too slow’ in a playful exchange. Starc admitted it was satisfying to dismiss Jaiswal for a golden duck but stressed that his team must stay alert for the second innings.

In Perth, Jaiswal had gone for a duck in the first innings but made a remarkable 161 in the second, helping India secure a 295-run victory.

At stumps on Day 1, Australia were 86/1, with Marnus Labuschagne and Nathan McSweeney at the crease, trailing by 94 runs.