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Perhaps inadvertently, Mitchell Starc’s heroics have gone beyond inspiring Australia’s dominant Ashes campaign – they have also orchestrated the rise of a man who will be his most lethal rival come next year’s T20 World Cup.
Shortly after touching down in Brisbane to begin his Big Bash League campaign with the Heat, Pakistan spearhead Shaheen Afridi lauded his fellow left-armer as a role model to any young paceman, as he was for him a decade ago.
The now-25-year-old watched as Starc guided Australia to the 2015 One-Day World Cup trophy, where his now famous in-swinging yorker compiled a compelling highlights reel.
Mitchell Starc (left) inspired Pakistan star Shaheen Afridi’s approach a decade ago.Credit: Getty
Ironically, England coach Brendan McCullum – then opening the batting for New Zealand – was the man who suffered from Starc’s proficiency at the delivery, cleaned bowled with the fifth ball of the final as Australia marched to a seven-wicket victory.
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Ten years on, the 35-year-old has been tormenting McCullum once again, already claiming 18 wickets in a 2-0 start to the series at an average of just 14. In doing so, he overtook Pakistani great Wasim Akram as the leading Test wicket-taker among left arm bowlers.
Afridi, still just 25, arrives at the Heat as one of the world’s best up-and-coming quicks, and still reflects on what vision of a younger Starc taught him when he was just a teenager.
“When Starcy played that 2015 World Cup I played for the under-16s for Pakistan, so I followed him and Trent Boult many times,” he said.
“The way they swing the ball, I think that World Cup he bowled fuller throughout that World Cup and had very good success,” Afridi said.
“Whenever we play against Australia we have a very good chat. He is a legend. The last time we chatted, I told him I watched his 2015 [World Cup] bowling spell, and that’s what I follow – bowling fuller to the batsmen.
“He’s a world-class bowler. He still says the best is Wasim Akram, but for any youngster, Mitchell Starc is now currently a role model, and he’s been the best for Australia for many years.”
Afridi will now be tasked with spearheading a Brisbane attack, along with Xavier Bartlett, deprived of the arsenal they had intended to build their BBL title charge around.
Spencer Johnson, who Starc has previously heralded as his heir apparent, will miss the entire campaign as he recovers from a back stress fracture, while Michael Neser’s maiden Test five-wicket haul at the Gabba has ensured he remains with the Ashes squad.
But Heat bowling coach and former Test quick Andy Bichel saw enough similarities in Afridi’s and Starc’s games to suggest Brisbane had the tools to overcome the loss of their two leading fast men.
“He’s that guy who can break a game open like Starcy, so he’s got those same qualities,” Bichel said.
Bichel confirmed Johnson, who has endured a torrid run of injuries in a career limited to six first-class games along with five one-day internationals and eight T20I, was coming along strongly in his recovery.
He said the sight of Starc achieving peak form deep into his career should give the 29-year-old hope a fruitful international tenure beckoned.
“It was probably a risk to be in the Big Bash, we would all love him to take that risk, but I think there’s bigger fish to fry for Spencer,” Bichel said.
“He’s such a quality bowler, he’s world-class and monitored around the world when he’s fit, so the important thing is to get him back to full fitness.
“I suppose he wants to be bowling right now, and the fact everything’s happening in Australia, but I think he’ll come back bigger and better than he’s been and fill those boots of Starc’s.”
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