Mitchell Starc was put to sword like never before in an ODI when Australia took on England in the fourth match of the series at Lord’s on Friday, brutally bringing back the nightmare memory of India captain Rohit Sharma plundering the pacer during the T20 World Cup earlier this year.
In London, it was Liam Livingstone’s turn to add Starc’s name in history books for an unwanted record as the English big-hitter smashed 28 runs off his over — the costliest by an Australian bowler in ODIs.
In June this year, Australia’s ‘Super 8’ match at the T20 World Cup saw Rohit hammering Starc, taking 29 runs off his over — which is only behind the 30 runs that all-rounder Glen Maxwell conceded for an Australian record in T20Is.
On Friday, in a game reduced to 39 overs after morning rain, Livingstone treated Starc with utter disdain in the final over of England innings, hitting the Australian left-arm pacer for four sixes in an over that in the read 6, 0, 6, 6, 6, 4.
Livingstone’s 27-ball 62 not out, including 7 sixes and 3 fours, powered England to 312 for 5. The home team’s pacers, led by Matthew Potts’ 4 for 38, then decimated the Aussie run-chase, bowling the visitors out for a mere 126. Brydon Carse (3 for 36), Jofra Archer (2 for 33) and leg-spinner Adil Rashid (1 for 11) were the other wicket-takers in the 186-run win that levelled the five-match series at 2-2.
Starc being sent to cleaners by Livingstone brought back memories of Rohit’s sensational hitting during the T20 World Cup match, when he played probably the best knock of the tournament — hitting eight sixes and seven fours in his 41-ball 92.
The highlight of Rohit’s knock was the third over of the Indian innings bowled by Starc, which saw the India captain smashing four sixes and a four off the pacer. The wide made it a 29-run over.
A few weeks later, Starc spoke about the onslaught by Rohit.
“I’ve played a lot against him. He had a good tournament, especially in our game. I think he targeted that wind in St. Lucia as well. If you look at the runs from each end, one end went for a lot more than the other. I bowled from that end. I bowled five bad balls and he hit them all,” Starc had said on the LiSTNR Sport podcast.
