Mitchell Starc ends his 100th Test party at express pace
The Mitchell Starc 100th Test celebration became awkward when the guest of honour took six wickets for nine runs and completed the cricket before anyone found the ceremonial knife.
Starc took five wickets in 15 balls against West Indies. Their innings totalled 27, leaving the scoreboard with less a score than the number of people still queuing for coffee outside.
He also passed 400 Test wickets. Ground staff considered adding a digit to the honours board, then realised Starc had already removed it with middle stump.
The anniversary schedule loses all padding
“We planned a montage covering two decades,” said Barry Leg Glance, Head of Milestone Catering. “Mitchell supplied his own highlights package during the time it took us to unwrap one tray of sandwiches.”
Officials had prepared a framed cap, a handshake, a dignified speech and a cake shaped like a red ball. By lunch, only the cake still possessed a middle order.
Starc accepted congratulations and asked whether anyone had found another batting side behind the pavilion. The tannoy tried to announce a drinks break but the innings had other ideas.
Ricky Ponting praised Starc’s journey from promise to greatness. The Museum of Australian Fast Bowling marked it by putting six stumps in a dark room and allowing visitors 15 balls to find them.
The sixth candle requests a review
Starc blew out the candles. Five vanished in one breath. The sixth was given out after review.
Read the real story: The ICC report on Mitchell Starc’s 100th Test milestone.
