Starc Shines Late as South Africa Are Bowled Out for 329

Cape Town, October 28: The third and deciding Test between South Africa and Australia got underway in Cape Town on Tuesday. South Africa controlled much of the opening day, but Mitchell Starc came back strongly in the final overs and was central to restricting the home side to 329.

At the post-match press conference, Starc reflected on the series. "There were plenty of things that weren't right for me during the series, and reviewing my video footage helped me understand my flaws," he said.

Before the final Test, Starc studied earlier footage with the coaching staff and his wife, Alyssa Healy. The review covered earlier clips, including his spells from the Ashes last season, and showed no major change in his action. He also looked at Durban Test footage, which had some Ashes overlays, to check whether something was off. "Mostly it was a feeling," he said. "My action wasn't that different. I was probably chasing something I didn't need. If I just stop overthinking, I can be right."

Starc accepted that Australia had been poor in the first session. "I bowled some decent overs with the second new ball," he said. "Doing that in the first hour would have been ideal. But I think finding solutions before the day ends is something our group does well."

Having taken six wickets across the first two Tests, Starc endured a difficult opening spell on Tuesday, going 12 overs without a wicket and conceding 62 runs. He recovered after that. At stumps, his figures read 6 for 72 from 16.3 overs. Using bouncers at the close of the day and then swinging the new ball, he took four lower-order South African wickets in six balls.

The left-arm fast bowler's late burst was crucial, as South Africa, who had once been 158 without loss, ended up at 329.