Mitchell Starc hat-trick against Netherlands placed them on the back foot in the exhibition game.

Mitchell Starc, a left-arm seamer for Australia, made his World Cup debut on Saturday, September 30 at Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram, when he claimed a hat-trick against the Netherlands. Max O’Dowd, the Netherlands’ opener, was caught in front of the stumps on the fifth ball by Starc as the Netherlands were defending a total of 166/7 in the rain-shortened 23-over match.

On the very next ball, he managed to get past Wesley Barresi’s defense once more, sending him back to the pavilion for a golden duck. He destroyed Bas de Leede’s stumps in the second over on the first pitch to finish his hat-trick.

 

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Mitchell Starc early assault left Netherlands reeling at 12/3 after 2.1 overs and further reduced them to 15/4 after 3.5 overs. Being the joint-highest wicket-taker of the 2015 World Cup with 22 wickets from eight innings at an average of 10.18 and an economy of 3.50, the Australian fast bowler concluded as one of the tournament’s most frightening bowlers.

The 33-year-old went on to win the 2019 tournament’s most wickets award after taking a tournament record 27 wickets from ten innings at an average of 18.59 and a 5.43 economy rate. Notably, he beat the famous Glenn McGrath, who had taken 26 wickets in the 2007 World Cup, to set a new record with 27 wickets for the most wickets in a single World Cup edition.

Only 23 more victories separate Mitchell Starc from holding the record for most World Cup wickets.

Mitchell Starc has nine wickets to his name in the four games he has played this year, and he is anxious for another exciting World Cup. With 49 wickets from 18 games, he presently holds the fifth-highest position among World Cup wicket-takers all-time.

Mitchell Starc will be eager to surpass McGrath’s record of 71 wickets in a World Cup career because he is only 22 wickets away from doing so.