Facing Mitchell Starc is a tough task. Be it in the nets or on the pitch. Phoebe Litchfield also knows it well now.
What Did Phoebe Litchfield Say About Mitchell Starc?
Litchfield, appearing on the “Keepin’ It Cricket” podcast, recounted the time when she faced Starc in the nets. After 3 balls, she wanted to get away from the balls fired by him.
“I faced his warm-ups, and I reckon I faced three balls of Mitch and by the third one I was like, ‘I need to get out of here.’ And he knows where to put it, which I respect, and he was very kind to me,” Litchfield said. “But god damn, I count my blessings.”
Fastest woman bowler? South Africa’s Shabnim Ismail. Clocking at 132.1 km/h (82.08 mph). Starc’s average speed? 140 to 142 km/h (approximately 87 to 88 mph).
“Cuz I’m like, ‘Ah, thank God, I’m a woman for a lot of reasons, but women’s cricket, cuz I don’t have to face Mitch Starc.’ And that was about it. And I left going, ‘Yeah, okay, that’s quick.’ And then I just stood to the side,” Litchfield continued.
With over 445 test wickets and a peak delivery clocked at a terrifying 160.4 km/h (99.66 mph) at the WACA, Starc operates in a stratosphere of his own. He combines searing left-arm angles with a deadly late swing. Hunting timber with surgical precision.
Litchfield witnessed the same firsthand, and her net session captured that exact chaos. After standing on the side, to safety, she watched the remainder of the session.
“Mitch would bowl, rattle the stumps. He literally sent one of the stumps like into the river through the net, through the net, down the thing. Nearly hit a bike rider. And then I’d step back,” the Australian batter added.
It is definitely a humorous take, straight out of a comedy sketch, but when a bowler averages 26.12 in tests and destroys batting line-ups for fun, sending equipment flying into traffic is another Tuesday morning.
“I was a little bit nervous… He is very crafty bowler, and I see why he is the greatest of all time,” Litchfield concluded.
Litchfield’s anecdote reveals the rapport the two great Australian cricketers share, learning from each other, while humour underlines the respect.
Also Read: “Sorry for Trying”: Alyssa Healy’s Hilarious Retort to Mitchell Starc’s Retirement Dig