Mitchell Starc's sensational salaam to a local artform

A few days out from Australia's departure for Pakistan, Mitchell Starc spent a 45-minute session in Melbourne bowling to Marnus Labuschagne. It was all about reverse swing. The objective of the spell for Starc was to make sure that the ball was tailing in late and not swinging out of the hand. And it was Labuschagne's role to tell him if he could "see it from his hand" or if he was being made to react late. The No 1 Test batter in the world of course obliged, enjoying the challenge as much as Starc was if not more.

This was Starc, already considered a master at the art of reverse swing, trying to master one of the more basic yet potent tenets of this fascinating art. This was after all his first trip to the subcontinent in over 5 years. And Starc was understandably making sure he wouldn't need any trial runs before getting to his devastating best with the oldish ball if or when the opportunity arose in Pakistan.

Starc didn't need any cues from his teammates