Shane Warne’s criticism of Aussie fast bowler Mitchel Starc has backfired spectacularly after the pacemen claimed a wicket on the very first ball of the 2021/2022 Ashes series.
Warne has been vocal and consistent in his denunciation of Starc, pleading with selectors to drop the bowler for his wildly inconsistent form.
However, getting to witness the magic from the commentary box himself, Warne’s criticisms were crushed by a first ball Starc delivery that crashed into English batter Rory Burns stumps.
Starc wasn’t the only person pumped up about the stunning wicket, pundits on social media laid the smackdown on Warne for his supposedly ongoing petty jabs.
As seen on the Daily Mail, tweets included, “The Mitchel Starc haters’ apologies need to be as loud as their disrespect was #Ashes.”
“Something truly beautiful about Shane Warne being in the commentary box to call Mitchel Starc taking a wicket with the first ball of the #ashes,” wrote another user.
Notably, even after Starc took the prized wicket, Warne attributed the scalp to the batter’s inability to cope with what he felt was a half-volley.
“Long way across his stumps, Rory Burns looking for the outswing from Mitchell Starc but unfortunately for him he got too far across, exposed the leg back and bang, Australia strike early… It all comes down to nerves for Rory Burns,” Warne said.
Not immediately paying respect to Starc caused another social media blow up whereby some Twitter users labelled Shane Warne’s inability to acknowledge Starc’s immediate impact on the game as, “On-brand” behaviour.
However, eventually Warne did finally give out some praise stating, “I think he’s found his mojo. That wicket first ball really gave him the confidence to come back and he’s been steaming in the mid 140s.”
England was eventually bowled out for 147 runs in 50 overs of play. Starc finished with very strong figures taking 2 wickets for 35 runs at a rate of 2.9 runs an over.
