Not many good things to say about Pollard spat: Starc
For a 24- year- old pacer making his IPL debut in a team which lacked in firepower, Mitchell Starc has done well for himself. Having featured in all the 10 matches for Royal Challengers Bangalore as their mainstay bowler this season, Starc with 13 sticks to his credit is currently the team’s best bowler.
While his on- field show with the ball and fielding has come in for high praise, the ugly spat with Mumbai Indian’s Kieron Pollard has made a significant blot on his opening season.
But the left- arm quick from New South Wales, who is a part of significant number of Australians who have held sway this season, has put the incident behind him and is enjoying his stint with RCB. Excerpts: On Australians doing well in this edition: A lot of guys are in good form. Notably, Maxwell has been very good with the bat. Most of the Australian guys have done well in the games that they have played. That comes from the fact that they come to India so often, whether for the IPL or with the national side.
On his experience with RCB as his IPL debut: Experience wise, it has been fantastic. It is my first IPL, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I had obviously spoken to the Australian guys who had come over in the past. It’s been great. RCB is a great place to play, great people, on the field, the players and great support staff. It has been easy to come over and be involved.
On the influence of bowling coach Allan Donald: AD has been very good for us bowlers. He’s kept it nice and relaxed and very simple, which has perhaps been the key to our success as a bowling unit. Not overthink it too much and get too down when it is tough, as we have seen in a couple of games.
On the spat with Pollard: Not too much good to say about that. Kieron has done that sort of stuff in the past, him pulling out, but I am not going to say too much about it. Not many nice things to say about it.
On IPL helping players from various countries bond: What is great about this tournament is that, in the past, I wouldn’t have had any sort of chance to play alongside AB, Virat, Yuvraj, Chris. Guys from a lot of different countries to be involved in one team is great. You get to know each other and their cultures a lot more. You also get to know them better, how they play their cricket, their strengths and weaknesses, and use that in the future when you play against them, internationally.
On having a cricketer ( Alyssa Jean Healy) for a girlfriend: It is a good understanding. She has also been on the road a lot. It has been fantastic to have her supporting me and RCB. It has been very enjoyable to have her around.