As Mitchell Starc tore through the West Indies with a career-best 6 for 9 in his 100th Test, former Australian captain Ricky Ponting reflected on the moment he first knew Starc was destined for greatness - a fiery spell to Sachin Tendulkar in just his third Test.
Starc’s stunning performance in Jamaica - claiming five wickets in 15 balls to help bowl West Indies out for a shocking 27 - was the perfect celebration of a milestone few fast bowlers ever reach. But according to Ponting, the signs were evident long ago.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!"I remember, he was bowling a spell to Sachin Tendulkar... got up under Sachin's armpit and Sachin just sort of knocked one into short leg," Ponting told The ICC Review.
"When you could see that sort of pace and bounce, and have someone like Sachin not be able to cope with it - that was the reassurance for all of us that there was something extra special in Mitchell Starc."
Ponting, part of the dressing room in Starc’s early days, said the left-arm pacer’s raw pace, bounce, and ability to swing the new ball made him a standout even as a teenager.
"He’s got to be 6’5". Always had pace, high 140s, touching 150. Swinging the new ball back into right-handers - it was clear early that he could be a 100-Test, 400-500 wicket bowler for Australia."
Now 35, Starc has delivered on that early promise. With over 400 Test wickets, multiple ICC trophies, and 725 international wickets across formats, his legacy as one of Australia’s all-time greats is secure.
Ponting also praised Starc’s discipline in managing his career.
"He made a lot of decisions for longevity - like skipping IPLs to stay fresh for Australia. That commitment’s never been questioned."
Starc’s 100th Test was a masterclass in fast bowling - but as Ponting recalled, the moment that hinted at this greatness came years ago, when a young quick made the Little Master uncomfortable.
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