Not Going to Be Easy: Mitchell Starc Hoping Dew Comes and Reverse Swing Stays Away

Australia managed to restrict India to 240 all out in the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, with a disciplined bowling performance.

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Mitchell Starc produced figures of 3/55 from his 10 overs and was happy that their plan worked out on the big stage.

“You can always plan for things, the way we contributed with the ball is fantastic first up and now out there (need to do the job) with the bat,” Mitchell Starc said at the mid-innings break.

“There is not a whole heap of help for the seam bowlers and swing bowlers, was trying to do a few different things, vary the pace a little bit. Patty (Cummins) and Josh (Hazlewood) were outstanding and obviously a little bit of reverse at the back end. Hopefully, we restricted them to enough (runs),” he added.

The five-time champions quietening the heavily pro-Indian crowd inside the 132,000-capacity Narendra Modi Stadium, something skipper Pat Cummins had promised ahead od the summit clash.

Virat Kohli (54) and KL Rahul (66) struck half-centuries for India after the tournament host was put into bat in a bold decision by Australia captain Pat Cummins.

A slow wicket, some reverse swing and the falling of early wickets — India was reduced to 81-3 in the 11th over — made for tough batting conditions, so Australia still had work to do to earn a record-extending sixth 50-over world title.

Starc though is hoping the dew has an effect on the game given that the Aussie bowlers found the pitch to be a bit dry. He said: “We bowled second here against England and it was a little dewy, the wicket (today) is a little bit dry and hopefully the dew comes in and we don’t see any reverse in the second innings, not an easy wicket to bat on, the easiest time to bat perhaps is against the hard new ball and there are runs to be scored and it is not going to be easy, but it is what you ask for, it is a world cup final. What more can you ask for!”

World Cup Final: IND VS AUS – LIVE

The score was similar to the 2019 final, which went to a super over after New Zealand then England made 241.

India, yet to lose in this tournament, is bidding for a third World Cup title and Australia a record-extending sixth crown.

(With inputs from Agencies)