Under-fire Starc responds with 'unplayable' delivery

Mitchell Starc has hit back at criticism over his form with a superb delivery to remove India’s Murali Vijay for a duck in the first innings.

Wounded by questions over his role as Australia’s pace spearhead, Starc has needed just 12 balls to answer his critics in the second Test in Perth.

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Starc struck with the final ball before lunch on day two in Perth, clean bowling Vijay with a ripping inswinger to leave India 1-6 in their first innings, in reply to Australia’s 326.

Starc’s wayward performance in Adelaide drew plenty of criticism, led by Shane Warne, who suggested Starc would be bowling for his spot in the Test XI in Perth.

The left-armer struggled to find his radar at times as India claimed a 31-run victory in the series opener.

Australian women’s cricketing star Alyssa Healy took to social media to defend her husband, posting an article which highlighted that Starc was closing in on 200 Test wickets at a record strike rate for an Australian bowler.

Skipper Tim Paine’s suggestion that Starc would be fired up to respond on a lively Perth Stadium deck quickly proved to be on the money.

“I think the criticism he’s come under this week has been pretty unfair, to be honest … his best and his worst are getting closer together and I think we’re getting really close to his best again,” Paine said on the eve of the Perth Test.

“He swung the ball in Adelaide, which he didn’t do in the UAE. I think he’ll swing it out there (in Perth) – I think the conditions are going to suit him down to the ground.

“One thing I know about Starcy is when he cops a bit of criticism, normally he takes it pretty personally and that sometimes gets the best out of him.”

Josh Hazlewood had the Indians 2/8 just after lunch after a ripping in-swinging yorker removed KL Rahul for two runs.

Hazlewood had the ball swinging late as it skittled Rahul’s wicket, taking out middle and off stump to leave the tourists reeling.

Australia fashioned a first-innings total of 326 early on day two in Perth, frustrating India’s attack during a wicketless opening hour of play before losing 4-16.

Tim Paine and Pat Cummins resumed at 6-277 on Saturday, desperate for Australia’s Test team to pass 300 for just the second time since the Cape Town cheating scandal.

Paine led from the front, combining a couple of well-timed boundaries and cheeky singles to march his team to 6-306 at the morning drinks break.

The topsy-turvy nature of the contest continued when Paine and Cummins departed soon after in the space of three balls, for 38 and 19 respectively.

Sharma then removed Starc and Josh Hazlewood with consecutive deliveries, finishing with figures of 4-41.

It is Sharma’s best Test haul in Australia.

The Indian quick will face an anxious wait to see if he can claim a hat-trick after his superb efforts in cleaning up Australia’s tail.

With AAP