Aussie Starc struggling to live up to his price tag

• Published date: 18 April 2024
• Author: CRICKET
• Publication title: Northern Advocate, The (Whangarei, New Zealand)

Starc has struggled again to justify his billing as Rajasthan Royals matched the highest run-chase in Indian Premier League annals, overhauling KKR’s 223-6 on the final ball at Eden Gardens

The most expensive player in IPL history at A$4.43m ($4.82m) now has five wickets for 232 runs in his six matches for KKR, and averages 10.54 an over.

After showing signs of being back to his best on Sunday when he took 3-29 against Lucknow Super Giants, he was dispatched for 50 in four overs.

The numbers do not tell the full story. Yashasvi Jaiswal mistimed a Starc delivery without the ball going to hand in the opening over, Sanju Samson was then dropped off a sitter by Varun Chakravathy at short third. But it was nevertheless another chastening night for the 34-year-old.

England’s white ball skipper Jos Buttler, so often the scourge of Australians, was his nemesis.

Buttler made a stunning 107 not out off 60 balls, the last 60 in 30 balls as he masterminded a run chase in which he had to turn down singles to keep the strike.

Buttler hit 29 runs off the 15 legal balls Starc bowled at him, and the left-armer also conceded eight wides bowling at the centurion.

Royals’ two-wicket win was harsh on Sunil Narine, the Trinidadian allrounder who made 109 with the bat then took 2-30 in four overs, the best economy-rate of another runfest.

He won three of the many post-match awards and picked up them all without a smile.

The match pitted first against second, and after it Royals had opened up a four-point lead at the...