Mitchell Starc feels Nic Maddinson should get another chance

Aussie speedster Mitchell Starc feels young middle-order batsman Nic Maddinson who had a disappointing time in his first two Tests for Australia should get another chance to prove himself in the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan. Starc who is Maddinson’s New South Wales teammate felt that another chance will eventually help him get better at the highest level.

He was dismissed for a duck on his Test debut against the Proteas at Adelaide before scoring one and four in the opening Pink ball Test against Pakistan at the Gabba. The hard-hitting southpaw might face the axe from the selectors after rookie all-rounder Hilton Cartwright was drafted into the 13 member squad for the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne.

“I definitely think Maddo should get another chance,” Starc said. “In the end, it’s up to the selectors but I think continued cricket, definitely at this level, can only help him.

“It’d be a great opportunity for him on Boxing Day after we’ve had a couple of good wins as a unit as well (and) it’d be nice to stick together,” Starc was quoted by the Indian Express.

Starc felt that getting an extended run at the highest level will make Maddinson feel better and will also help him improve at the Test level. “There were some times where I was backed more and given more of a chance, and (with) a longer run of cricket, I guess my performances started to pick up and I got that consistency in my game,” the fast bowler added.

Australia lead the 3-match series against Pakistan 1-0 and the pacer revealed that he was itching to get started. The left-arm quick was rested from the Boxing Day Test against Sri Lanka four years earlier to manage his workload. Starc who sustained a freakish leg injury in September and underwent a surgery said his body was shaping up well and he was still bowling at a brisk pace late into the day-night fixture in Brisbane.

“I think the last ball I bowled in that Test match, which was in the 56th over, was 149 clicks (kmph) so (there’s) no issues on my end,” Starc said.

“You’d have to ask the other quicks if they’re any different, but I think the Boxing Day Test just gets everyone up and ready to go.

“From what I’ve seen around the guys the last day-and-a-half, everyone’s feeling pretty good (and) recovered really well … there’s no reason why anyone would be missing out through injury or rest, as far as I know,” Starc concluded.