While Australian speedster Mitchell Starc is known for his fiery spells and yorkers that leave even the best batters in the world in trouble, the left-arm speedster was at the receiving end of a fiery spell of speech himself from his wife and Australia captain Alyssa Healy. The couple exchanged in a hilarious banter during the second ODI match between Australia Women and South Africa Women on Wednesday (February 7).
While Healy was the skipper of the team, Starc was one of the commentators on the panel away from his cricketing assignments. During the mid-innings break, Starc questioned Healy about the line and length of her bowlers. However, the response to that from the wicketkeeper-batter left Starc on the backfoot.
"Saw the length of the opening pair there, Schutt (Megan) and Kimmie Garth. You reckon they could have bowled a fraction fuller with the help of the wicket. You got the catchers there for Garth... who bowled a holding length and really disciplined lines and length... but maybe a fraction fuller to get those edges," Starc asked Healy.
However, the 33-year-old tried to take a dig at the fast bowler in response to that question which left everyone in splits.
"I think if we are being highly critical, like you are suggesting, then yes, potentially, then Kimmie Garth could have come maybe a fraction fuller, but that is the natural length that she likes to hit and that's her role within our team as well - to get the ball moving and to keep it tight down that end as well. So, yes, if we are being ultra-critical, then maybe," Healy said.
"Is this bowling or critical of the commentary? I don’t know," Starc concluded on air.
Take a look at the viral video here:
AUS-W vs SA-W Series Levelled At 1-1
As far as the three-match AUS-W vs SA-W series is concerned, it stands levelled at 1-1. While Australia won the series opener, the visitors ended up winning the second ODI to level the scorline 1-1. The final ODI of the series is scheduled to be played on Saturday (February 10).