Mitchell Starc had his revenge for a beamer bowled earlier in the Sydney Test when he dismissed Navdeep Saini with a bouncer at the back end of India’s innings on day three.

Late on day two, India’s debutant Navdeep Saini had dished out a series of short balls at Mitchell Starc that eventually resulted in his dismissal. A few balls before the dismissal, Saini accidentally let loose a beamer outside off-stump, immediately apologising to Starc for the delivery.

It wasn’t the end of the series of short balls, though, as Saini bowled two more bouncers, one of which Starc pulled away for six. However, shortly after, the Australian tail-ender was dismissed trying to take on another bumper.

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When his turn came, Starc made his intentions as he came out with a bouncer barrage against Saini. The Aussie left-arm quick greeted Saini with four quick bouncers, each clocking at over 140kph. Saini could only fend off the fifth bouncer with silly point taking a routine catch to send back the Indian tail-ender.

7 Cricket presenter and former Australia pacer Trent Copeland tweeted that the bouncer barrage from Starc was “ALWAYS coming” for Saini after the face-off the previous day.


In reply, Alyssa Healy, Australia Women wicketkeeper and Starc’s wiife, suggested it was actually the beamer that “tipped him over the edge”.


Fans jumped in on the discussion, pointing out that Starc was known to go after the tail-enders with bouncers, a discussion that had gained attention in recent times on social media.


Ian Chappell, former Australia cricketer, had weighed in on the matter, stating that bouncers needn’t be banned but there should be concern shown for a “hopeless batsman”.

“If a guy looks like he’s pretty hopeless against them you’ve got to give him some protection. After that the umpires have got to say, ‘Just bowl the guy out, don’t try to kill him,” Chappell had told the Sydney Morning Herald.

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Alyssa HealyMitchell StarcNavdeep SainiAustralia v IndiaSeries Editorial