Starc storms his way to hat-trick history
MITCHELL Starc has exploded out of the blocks in his bid to emulate Mitchell Johnson this summer, pulling off a remarkable second hat-trick for the match to create history and take his Ashes tuneup to the next level.
For the first time in more than a century of Australian cricket, Starc claimed the rarest bowling milestone not once but twice.
And with three blazing deliveries to finish a landslide NSW victory he gave the country’s fast-bowling attack all the momentum in their quest to demolish England.
The Australian Test attack dressed in NSW uniforms flexed their muscles by tearing through Western Australia like a hurricane late on day four of their Sheffield Shield match at Hurstville Oval.
In the over before tea, WA’s all-star batting line-up hadn’t even lost a wicket for 179 runs and the game appeared destined for a draw.
That was until lightning struck twice and Australia’s reverse-swing demons took hold.
Starc (seven wickets for the match), Josh Hazlewood (six) and Pat Cummins (four) knocked over the 10 secondinnings wickets for 44 runs to secure a landslide 171-run win with 10 overs to spare.
Steve Smith was gobsmacked at the quality of Starc’s achievement – blazing through the tail without mercy for both hat-tricks – but the skipper reserved rare praise for Hazlewood.
Australia have their problems in the batting department but, as forecast by 201314 Ashes whitewash hero Ryan Harris, this fast-bowling attack is the stuff of dreams and may be better than Johnson’s 2013 crew.
Smith, with a confidenceboosting hundred of his own yesterday inspired by putting a pen mark on his handle where he should hold the bat, said the crushing Shield triumph was the ideal Ashes warm-up for Australia.
Not since Jimmy Matthews in a 1912 Test against South Africa, and Albert Trott in a 1907 county game in England, has an Australian gone double hat-trick in a first-class fixture.
“That doesn’t surprise me,’’ Smith said. “They are not easy to come by. Phenomenal effort.
“Hoff obviously played in this game and I thought he bowled like an absolute genius. He’s a superstar.
“I think Starcy has probably taken a little bit more time to get going and get some rhythm but the back end of today showed why he’s world class.
“Patty Cummins has had a couple of good games as well so they’re up and going and bowling really well, so that is positive signs for us.”
Smith took the catch to finish the match and complete Starc’s moment.
Starc, who had never taken a hat-trick in his entire cricketing life before this game, celebrated wildly upon dismissing last man Jono Wells.