Think it was a fair call during the Ashes. From memory his red ball form had been mediocre and they aren't the conditions for Starc in general. It's the last place you want someone spraying the new ball around. Although in hindsight, he might have been very useful in that match where we couldn't get the last wicket. That's the thing about him, releases pressure but can take wickets out of nowhere. Very good in specific conditions.

why funny?

he was terrible.

like awful...

like even with a good 2018 he still ranked 19th ;)

Where exactly do you allege that I lost my manners? old chum?

And I am certain that I said Rabada was better than Starc on roads, SR or everage right? ;) He is right? :) Where's Bumnrah -d dont tell me Bumrah is behind Starc in Aus... now way. I havve to check

SO I checked Bumrah has Starc beat on average and SR in Aus. Shalll I check Rabada too? Or you admit Starc aint all that now against what I said... politely...

Just checked, Rabada has Starc easily beat in Aus... vs Warner and Smith even... :)

So where are you going with this Starc is the best on roads argument?????

Politely you are wrong. And I said you were wrong poilitely without losing my manners. But now I have confirmed all stats. I just knew SA and India thrashed you there in Aus. :)

SHall I do Cummins in Aus too? Oh heck why not... Wait up

Cummins has the much superior average 22.7 vs 26.8 bvut a slithly worse sr of 48.2 vs 47.7.

Im taking CUmmins on those numbers. But you know - there is a half ball strike rate argument to be had...

LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL


Rabada and Bumrah eat starc in Aus and ask for more sir :)

No need to lose your manners

As to backing up my claim, if a draw is a danger you care more about strike rates than average.
of all current players above around 20 test matches only Rabada has a higher strike rate. Starc has one of the lowest strike rates of all time but an average in the mid to high 20s which makes him decent but not outstanding on helpful pitches. Cummins might overtake him but its too early to tell if his stats are warped by a small sample size.

How much world cricket do you watch? In all seriousness?

You're saying he is a road warrior. As roads lead to draws, dustbowls and green vipers do not. And the best suited to roads. But roads only occur in NZ and Aus. So that makes Starc the best bowler for Aus, except, he isn't. Cummins is clearly outbowling him as did Rabada, Bumrah and many more.

I do agree he is a fine road warrior, though. But the best? I seriously question that...

I think starc is the best bowler in the world on a wicket where a draw is highly likely

However, if a draw is super unlikely we have much better options because his average is higher than others.

Funny that Starc with this amazing strike rate, and who has done very well in this series against Pakistan, was dropped for most of The Ashes. 

I think Shane Warne made the good point that yes, he’s expensive, but he’s not in the team to be a line and length bowler. Cummins, Hazlewood, Pattinson & Siddle do that. Starc gives you that X factor where he can come in with raw pace and blast a few short balls or Yorkers and mix things up a bit.

Think it was a fair call during the Ashes. From memory his red ball form had been mediocre and they aren't the conditions for Starc in general. It's the last place you want someone spraying the new ball around. Although in hindsight, he might have been very useful in that match where we couldn't get the last wicket. That's the thing about him, releases pressure but can take wickets out of nowhere. Very good in specific conditions.

Funny that Starc with this amazing strike rate, and who has done very well in this series against Pakistan, was dropped for most of The Ashes. 

I heard he has the 2nd highest strike rate in history!

 I love watching Starc bowl. I always sense something exciting is going to happen when he is tossed the ball.

Starc is a real enigma. On song he can rip thru a side with sheer pace. Then he produces a spell where he has trouble landing the ball on the cut surface.. ala Mitch Johnson. Like Johnson he gets a lot of his wickets with bad balls but he can produce the unplayable spell that can net him a brace such as we saw in the first innings tho several of those were due to poor batting or rather impatient batting.

On TV they just showed how Josh H’s balls nearly all hit the same spot of good line and length about the size of a hanky against right handed batters.

Impressive! 

There was some criticism of the pink ball from pace bowlers. They think it gets too soft too quickly and needs more work.

Do you think H bowled better than Lyon in the second dig, Baggers?

I definitely like the pink ball Tests and think if the ball is easy to play during daylight hours, it compensates by doing more at dusk.

Paine said he has difficulty not with direction, but depth of the pink ball when catching. He said the ball hits the gloves slower or quicker than he anticipates. He attributed the  pink ball's unique characteristics  to some of the dropped catches.

IMO the pink ball is a another variable just like  different types of pitches are prepared in different countries. 

Is this a question of Starc being a much better bowler in Aus than England? 

Hence, the domestic attention?

I know we've seen a lot of the likes  of Warner and Starc overseas, tempering our  judgement.

I seem to remember Starc bowling quite well in the Subcontinent, but I could be wrong. 

I saw a little tail in DC. Beaut delivery. 
Lyon stole the quicks thunder. His 5 for came out of nowhere. Some poor execution and two clever balls.. specially the one that removed Yasir Shah.

Starc stole the first innings.. Hazlewood the second. Cummins a rather quiet game.

Now for the Black Caps in 10 days. Another day/niter me thinks.

I expected Pakistan to be tough to beat after destroying Australia A in the practice, lead up match. 

Rizwan clean bowled Hazlewood. 

I think Rizwan played down the wrong line under lights. 

9-235 under lights with only 1 wicket to go playing against the new ball. 

Just missed a bit of the game. 

Did Lyon take wickets 3,4 and 5 bowling from around the wicket to right hand batters? 

Who wants him replaced? Even if we did, we haven't got anyone near as good behind the stumps to replace him with. 

Is this a question of Starc being a much better bowler in Aus than England? 

Hence, the domestic attention?

I know we've seen a lot of the likes  of Warner and Starc overseas, tempering our  judgement.

I seem to remember Starc bowling quite well in the Subcontinent, but I could be wrong.