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[Watch] Mitchell Starc Gifts His Boots To A Lucky Fan After Australia Thrash PAK At MCG

image-lqqkf8n0Mitchell Starc celebrating a dismissal [AP]

Australia's premier fast bowler, Mitchell Starc, added a heartwarming touch to Australia's triumph over Pakistan in the second Test match in Melbourne by gifting his cricket shoes to a young fan on Friday, December 29. It was the Boxing Day Test, and Starc made the little boy's Christmas even better by giving him his boots as a mark of a Christmas present.

Aussies asserted their dominance in the Boxing Day Test, securing a 79-run victory over Pakistan and taking a 2-0 lead in the series. 

The hosts initially set the tone by posting a competitive total of 318 in the first innings and subsequently dismissed Pakistan for 264. Facing a challenging situation in the second innings, Australia battled through to reach 262, setting a target for Pakistan. 

In the final innings, pacers played the lead role, with skipper Pat Cummins leading the way with a five-wicket haul. 

Starc, known for bowling fiery spells, delivered a match-winning four-wicket haul (4/55), claiming key dismissals such as Abdullah Shafique (4), Saud Shakeel (24), Agha Salman (50), and Mir Hamza (0). His impressive spell contributed significantly to Australia's win, with Josh Hazlewood securing the prized wicket of Babar Azam.

Cricket Australia (CA) shared a heartwarming video on social media, capturing the moment when Starc fulfilled his promise to a young fan. 

During the lunch break, Starc assured the fan that he would give him his shoes if the team managed to take all the wickets by the end of the day. True to his word, Starc handed over his cricket shoes to the delighted fan after achieving the team's goal.

Starc showcased his bowling prowess on day four despite going wicketless in the first innings. He claimed the first breakthrough by dismissing Pakistan opener Abdullah Shafique and later dismantled the tail with a series of well-executed bouncers. While being effective, Starc was relatively expensive, conceding more than four runs per over across the match.


Record-breaking match for Starc

With his four-wicket haul at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Starc extended his impressive record against Pakistan to 51 wickets in 13 Tests at an average of 30. He now boasts five four-wicket hauls, along with a five-wicket haul against the Asian Giants. 

Among left-arm seamers, Starc has scalped more wickets against only England in this format, amassing 97 wickets.

In another remarkable achievement during the match, Starc surpassed 2,000 Test runs, becoming the third Australian cricketer to register 300-plus wickets and 2,000-plus runs in Test cricket.

The third and final Test of the three-match series is scheduled to take place from January 3 to January 7, 2024, at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in Sydney. This Test holds great significance as it marks the farewell of Australian opener David Warner, who will retire from the longest format after the match.