Mitchell Starc's ongoing terror on English openers has continued into the third day of the fourth Test, with the Australian veteran claiming the wicket of Haseeb Hameed with a stunning delivery.
After missing an earlier chance following Alex Carey's dropped catch off a Hameed edge just moments earlier in the session, Starc wasn't leaving his next opportunity up to chance.
A lethal cross-seam delivery from Starc saw Hameed's gate wide open as the ball rocketed into the top of middle stump.
"You could drive a bus through there!"
Mitchell Starc nails the pegs of Haseeb Hameed #OhWhatAFeeling #Ashes | @Toyota_Aus pic.twitter.com/kDiypgSBrA
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 7, 2022
Starc's impressive form - and Hameed's contrasting trend - sparked plenty of conversation on social media.
Mitchell Starc has easily been the best bowler in this series (helps that he's played every test). Probably man of the series favourite at the moment. Calls for him to be dropped seem pretty silly now. #Ashes #AUSvENG #Cricket
— Mark Gottlieb (@MarkGottlieb) January 7, 2022
Mitchell Starc has decided heโs not going to bother trying to use the field any more.
— Rudi Edsall (@RudiEdsall) January 7, 2022
Reminder: Hameed was deemed to be the "good" opener after the first two Tests.
— Daniel Cherny (@DanielCherny) January 7, 2022
https://twitter.com/mattgoss_/status/1479264410241683460
The English opener's lowly score of 6 adds to a frustrating summer for the 24-year-old, who hasn't managed a score above 27 this series.
Once again, Dawid Malan was brought onto the field with England in immediate trouble early into their innings.
