Australian Pacer Mitchell Starc Set to Play 100th Test in Historic Pink-Ball Match

As he approaches his 100th Test match, Australian pacer Mitchell Starc finds it amusing that this significant milestone coincides with a pink-ball game. On July 13, he will represent Australia against the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica, marking him as the 16th Australian player to reach this feat and only the second fast bowler from his nation.

Starc humorously remarked on the situation, stating, "I don't think it's poetic, but it's quite funny that I'm playing [the] 100th in a pink-ball game." This match may hold even greater significance for Starc if he manages to take five more wickets, bringing his total to 400 and making him the fourth bowler in history to achieve this milestone, alongside legends such as Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath, while also being the second fast bowler to do so.

He acknowledged that the Australian team is not well-acquainted with the pink Dukes ball, which adds an element of novelty to the match. Starc mentioned that only Usman Khawaja has experience with this type of ball, having used it in a short county game that lasted a mere one and a half days. He noted, "There might be a few things going on at night with the pink Dukes. It's a new one for us as a group."

Historically, the Caribbean has hosted only one day-night Test prior to this match, with Sri Lanka competing in Barbados back in 2018. Australia boasts an impressive record in day-night Tests, winning 12 out of 13 matches, their only loss occurring against the West Indies last year at the Gabba. After this Test series, the focus will shift to white-ball cricket, where the West Indies will meet Australia in five T20I matches from July 20 to July 28.