Starc says batting credentials still not good enough to brand him all rounder

Sydney: Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc has downplayed talks about his batting ability after impressing with the bat during the recently concluded one-day series against Sri Lanka. A true all-rounder has a higher batting average than bowling average, and there are very few players who have maintained that record over a career. Aged just 22, Starc offers a small sample but in 15 one-day matches he has a batting average of 59 with a strike rate of 104 while claiming 25 wickets at just 22 apiece and in seven Tests he averages 30 with the bat while having claimed 28 wickets at 29.

Adding his six Test and one-day innings together this season, including two half-centuries amongst his four not out innings, Starc`s average is 75. Starc’s 52 not out from 37 balls during last Sundays washout at the SCG lifted Australia from disaster to a competitive 9/222 before drizzle ended the match, the paper said. However, Starc believes it`s going to be a long time before there is any chance for him of proving that he is an all-rounder. Starc added he is enjoying his batting and he is going to work a lot harder on his bowling. Starc does not believe he has the credentials to jump even one place, ahead of Mitchell Johnson, who has a Test century. ANI