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Australian speedster Mitchell Starc recently delivered a stunning match-winning performance, single-handedly dismantling Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) with a scintillating five-wicket haul including the key wicket of Travis Head in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. The left-arm pacer, who had been under scrutiny for his inconsistent form and the enormous price tag that made him one of the most expensive players in the league, responded emphatically with a spell that left the opposition reeling. His efforts propelled Delhi Capitals (DC) to a commanding five-wicket victory, reaffirming his value to the franchise.
Mitchell Starc dominates Travis Head: A one-sided rivalry
Australian speedster Starc has established his dominance over his countrymen Head , with an overwhelming head-to-head record. The left-arm pacer has dismissed Head six times in just 47 deliveries, conceding only 34 runs in their nine encounters. This lopsided battle highlights Starc’s ability to trouble his fellow Australian teammate, consistently getting the better of him with his pace and swing. Head, known for his aggressive stroke play, has struggled to counter Starc’s attacking lines and variations, often falling victim to his searing pace and precision. Whenever Starc has the ball, Head finds himself in trouble.
Alyssa Healy on Starc’s mental edge over Head
During a discussion on LiSTNR podcast, the host humorously pointed out Starc’s staggering success against Head, highlighting a lopsided head-to-head record. The host joked that Starc might as well send Head an Easter Bunny card with his own face on it, signifying the psychological hold the left-arm pacer has over the aggressive opener. The host questioned whether Head was aware of this unfavorable matchup and if it was something that played on his mind.
“You know Sunday night flick the TV on Look at that Mitch Stark charging in against Travis Head and got him again So I don’t know if Mitch sends Travis I don’t know a card from the Easter Bunny and it’s a picture of him or something like that because it’s seven innings 29 balls eight runs five wickets the head-to-head stats Is this known between the two,” the host asked.
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Australia women’s captain and wife of Starc, Alyssa Healy confirmed that Starc is not only aware of his dominance over Head but also takes pleasure in reminding him about it. She revealed that Head, who typically takes the first strike in an innings, deliberately avoids doing so whenever Starc is opening the bowling—an indication that the Australian fast bowler is firmly in his head.
“Yeah Mitch Mitch knows it I dare say he he reminds Trav of it as well And it is in Trav’s head because Trav normally faces the first ball and every time it’s Mitch opening the ball he doesn’t But Mitch gets stuck into him Like you got to come down here eventually mate So you may as well get it over and done with But um yeah you sure as a batter I know exactly who gets me out a lot So you try and avoid them where where possible And bad luck Trav,” Healy said.
The struggle of trying different approaches
Healy further elaborated on the mental battle that comes with such one-sided matchups. She noted that when a batter continuously falls to the same bowler, they often look for ways to counter it by trying different approaches. However, more often than not, those adjustments don’t yield the desired results.
“Sometimes when you try something different you know you’re going to get out eventually anyway and then you try something different and you get out anyway and you’re like no why did I bother like I may as well have just stepped into the line and try and slog him over cow corner and got bowled,” Healy concluded.
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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
