“Sachin was not able to cope with it” - Ricky Ponting recalls Mitchell Starc’s fiery spell to India legend

Former Australia captain and ICC Hall of Famer Ricky Ponting reflected on the moment that provided "reassurance" that there was something "extra special" for seasoned quick Mitchell Starc. The said moment also involved India’s legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar.

There aren't many bowlers who have played 100 Tests or taken 400 wickets in the format, but Starc has added both honors to his impressive resume in a destructive manner. Starc made the pink Dukes' ball dance to his melodies earlier this week, claiming the fastest five-wicket haul.

He needed only 15 deliveries to achieve the feat, becoming the second-fastest to 400 Test wickets, and ended with career-best figures of 6/9 as the West Indies scored a historic low of 27 in Jamaica.

Ricky Ponting recalls Mitchell Starc’s spell unsettling Sachin Tendulkar at Perth

Ponting was in the dressing room when the speedster was first starting at the highest level of cricket. He remembered clearly Australia's match against India at WACA in 2012, Starc's first Test match.

With speed and mobility, Starc rattled the venerable 'Master Blaster,' Sachin Tendulkar, during the raging match, demonstrating his full talent.

"I remember, he was bowling a spell to Sachin Tendulkar and was able to sort of bowl a short one, get up under Sachin's armpit, and Sachin just sort of knocked one into short leg on the leg side. And when you could see that sort of pace and bounce and have someone like Sachin not be able to cope with it, I think that was the reassurance for all of us that there was probably something extra special there for Mitchell Starc,” Ponting told ICC.

The former captain of Australia showered Starc with accolades for his career, which stretches over 16 years and 292 international games. Even as a youngster, it was easy to see that Starc was destined for greatness, according to Ponting.

"He's really now stacking up an amazing career—over 400 Test match wickets. I think everyone who laid eyes on him as a youngster understood that there was every possibility that he could be a 100-Test match, 400- or 500-wicket fast bowler for Australia.

He's got to be 6'5". He's always had pace on his side. He's always been sort of in the high 140s and sometimes pushing that sort of 150 barrier. He's had the ability to swing the new ball back into the right-handers," he added.

Starc arguably has all the accolades that a player dreams of achieving. The 35-year-old left-armer is a two-time 50-over World Cup winner, T20 World Cup champion, and World Test Championship winner. With 725 international wickets to his name, Starc etched his name as a modern-day great.

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