Watch: Mitchell Starc took out Ollie Pope’s middle stump with an inswinging pearler in a sensational new-ball burst that gave Australia the advantage on Day four evening of the second Ashes Test at Lord’s today (July 01).

Australia set England a target of 371 to level the 2023 Ashes 1-1. Nathan Lyon heroically came out to bat at No.11 for Australia despite not being able to walk without crutches before play and added 15 crucial runs with Starc for the last wicket.

Starc remained not out on 15, having hit one four and one six. He carried the momentum from his batting innings to his bowling as Australia came out to defend 370.

While he started with a wide outside off to Zak Crawley, Starc soon corrected his radar and created a chance in the first over itself. Ben Duckett guided one towards the left of gully and was almost caught by a leaping Cameron Green off the last ball of Starc’s first over.

Starc then removed Crawley with a strangle down the leg side off the first ball of his second over and got Duckett LBW two balls later, only for it to be reversed by the TV umpire.

Having created as many as three chances in his first two overs, Starc came back and created another with the first ball of his third, beating Pope on the outside edge as he played for the inswinger. The very next ball was as perfect an inswinger as you’d ever see from a left-arm seamer to a right-handed batter.

Pope who had just been set up by the one that went straight on the previous delivery, was not in position to negotiate the late and sharp swing back in. The ball cut him in half, went through his bat and pad, and sent the middle stump cartwheeling.

Pope’s wicket left England in a spot of bother at 13-2, chasing a huge score of 371.

Watch Starc detonate Pope’s middle stump with an inswinging pearler:

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