Unassuming Behrendorff steps out of the Starc shadow

"Can I answer Starcy's last question?"

Jason Behrendorff had just swapped places with Mitchell Starc to face the print media during a mixed zone in The Oval basement. As a miffed journalist continued to argue with the Australian media manager over being refused a question at Starc, a smiling Behrendorff was ready to step in for his more high-profile colleague. And the Western Australian left-armer could even see the funny side when there was no question coming his way.

"Oh, looks like he doesn't have a question now," he said, before joining everyone around in laughter. It had been a tough day out for Behrendorff against Sri Lanka, a tough initiation into the World Cup, having been taken apart by the Sri Lankan top-order before redeeming himself in the middle overs. But he hardly seemed perturbed by being literally lost in his more illustrious fellow left-arm pacer's shadow. That evening in London, he'd also sounded equally self-effacing when asked to compare Starc's role in the team to his own. "His is an attacking role, and mine's more a defensive one at times," the 29-year-old had said.

It was Behrendorff