Mitchell Starc Leads Pink-Ball Bowling Ahead of Brisbane Day-Night Test
Ahead of the Brisbane day-night second Test, Mitchell Starc stands out as the leading pink-ball bowler with 81 wickets at an average of 17.08, the highest tally by any bowler using the pink ball. He requires just three more Test wickets to surpass Wasim Akram’s 414 and become the most successful left-arm pace bowler in Test cricket history.
In Perth's first Test, Starc achieved a 10-wicket haul, marking the first Australian to do so since Shane Warne in 2005. He notably dismissed Zak Crawley for a pair and took down Ben Stokes twice. His bowling arsenal includes pace bowling speeds reaching approximately 90 mph, full-length deliveries targeting stumps, pads, and toes, a sharp bouncer, and a wobble-seam ball particularly effective against left-handers.
Players and commentators have noted the challenges posed by the pink ball under lights, including glare issues that can obscure the seam and give advantage to bowlers. Steve Smith employs anti-glare strips to mitigate this effect. Dean Elgar highlighted Starc as a significant threat to opening batters in day-night Tests, referencing his successful spells in the twilight conditions at Adelaide in 2016. Meanwhile, Dawid Malan recalled an intense encounter against Starc in Adelaide during the 2021-22 Ashes, where he managed to score 80 runs.
Despite the challenges posed by Starc and the pink ball, England have yet to secure a Test win at the Gabba in 39 years.
