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Mitchell Starc threatens to hit R Ashwin on helmet during India's next tour to Australia

Starc, who was given a send-off by Ashwin who claimed his wicket in the second Test, said that he was now waiting for his turn to bowl at the star offie in India's next tour Down Under.

Mitchell Starc threatens to hit R Ashwin on helmet during India's next tour to Australia

Ranchi: Australian speedster Mitchell Starc, who has headed back home after getting injured during the ongoing Test series, has issued a warning for premier Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. Starc, who was one of the most impressive performers for Australia in the series against India, has said that he is looking forward to bowling at Ashwin when India tour Australia next.

Starc, who was given a send-off by Ashwin who claimed his wicket in the second Test, said that he was now waiting for his turn to bowl at the star offie in India's next tour Down Under.

"I look forward to bowling to Ashwin in Australia," he laughed. "(I might) take his advice and hit him on the badge," Starc was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.

Strarc further added that it was the Indian team which was initiating most of the banters compared to Steve Smith's men.

"(The banter has) probably come a lot more from their side than ours. There was a lot made of it before the series and there was so much hype before the series. I think we've just gone about the cricket that we have done for a long period of time now."

The 2nd Test at Bengaluru will be remembered for many flare-ups between the two camps. But one which went unnoticed was Ashwin's brilliant response to Starc, who had earlier taunted the spinner's Tamil Nadu state-mate Abhinav Mukund.

After Starc fired a quick bouncer to Mukund, the left-hander got lucky and top-edged it for a six. Irritated with the shot, Starc looked at the batsman and pointed towards his own forehead which was an indication that he was warning him of hitting in the helmet.

Starc's gesture did not go down to well with Ashwin, who gave him a befitting reply by knocking off his stumps. Immediately after the dismissal, Ashwin furiously pointed towards his forehead giving Starc a taste of his own medicine.

The four-match Test series is currently levelled at 1-1 after Australian managed to draw the third Test at Ranchi. The decisive match is scheduled to be played in Dharamsala from March 25.