Peter Siddle
is taking on the mantle of leadership and example among Australia's
bowlers that - until recently - Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey held
for the batsmen.
Mitchell Starc attributed his much improved display on the final day of
the Hobart Test against Sri Lanka to being lifted by Siddle's efforts,
which matched his Herculean display against South Africa in Adelaide.
A prodigious talent, Starc is pleasing Australia's selectors, coaches
and the captain Michael Clarke by gathering in consistency and nous each
time he bowls in a Test, and also by staying fit when so many around
him are falling prey to injury.
His fiendish burst of reverse swing on an uneven final day surface at
Bellerive Oval was arguably Starc's best display to for his country to
date, and he put much of it down to watching Siddle give his all in the
spell that preceded it.
"Sidds was outstanding again in Hobart and was pretty much the heart and
soul of the attack," Starc said. "For me just to follow on from him, I
played pretty much a supporting role with Sidds there probably deserving
10 wickets. Not just the bowlers [are lifted by Siddle], the whole team
is.
"Having him around the squad he's full of energy and he's always giving
100% whether it be in the nets or in the field and that drags the whole
squad along. As he's shown in Adelaide, though unfortunately not getting
over the line there, but again in Hobart pretty similar performances
where he's given absolutely everything he's had. He's sat down and had
nothing left after the game. It was great for him we got that result
after what happened in Adelaide.
"When you have guys like Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey in the squad they
bring so much energy and a different feel to the group. I think Sidds
is well on the way to being someone like that, who just lifts everyone
up. When he's on bowling you know something most likely is going to
happen."
Starc's progress has been helped greatly by his developing durability,
which has allowed him to be fit for selection whenever Australia's
selectors have come calling over the past 12 months. By avoiding the
treatment table, Starc is gathering in knowledge about his bowling,
aided by advice from the likes of Wasim Akram, Jason Gillespie and the
Australian bowling coaches past and present, Craig McDermott and Ali de
Winter.
"That consistency is coming. I've got to find that balance between being
over aggressive and containing one end. That will come, I'm still
learning, I'm only 22," Starc said. "I'm taking it all in my stride and
learning from each game. That's something we did from the game in Perth -
I went for a few runs there.
"In Hobart we had 450 runs on the board so you can afford to be a bit
aggressive there. As you saw I went for a couple of runs but we got the
win in the end so we can take some confidence from that and being able
to get that result even with a bowler down as well.
"Injuries are unfortunate, they seem to go hand in hand with fast
bowling. I'm looking after myself doing all I can to stay on the park
and make sure I'm recovering well and playing well. You can't worry too
much about what the other guys are doing. Can't worry too much about
what the others are doing but we're all preparing the way we can and
stay on the park."
Despite his strong last-day form in Hobart, Starc may yet find himself
carrying the drinks on Boxing Day in order to ensure he maintains his
run of games without injury, the better to be fit for his home Test at
the SCG from January 3. Mitchell Johnson and Jackson Bird are both a
chance of being called into the Test side for the final match of 2012.
However Starc is eager to bowl at the MCG, having also run the drinks in
the corresponding match last year.
"It's always a big occasion the Boxing Day Test. If I get the nod to
play for Australia again it's going to be a nice one to run out in front
of a big crowd," Starc said. "Hopefully I can contribute again if I get
the chance in Melbourne."
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