Mitchell Starc is a complete world-beater: Brendon McCullum

Former New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum was in an insane form as he took on the toughest bowling attacks when New Zealand met their trans-Tasman rivals in the 2015 ICC World Cup final at Melbourne. There were huge expectations from the Kiwi skipper in this high-voltage clash

But, the Blackcaps suffered a huge blow to their World Cup hopes when Australian speedster Mitchell Starc scalped McCullum’s in the very first over of the match. Starc was simply the best that tournament and the retired cricketer admits the fact.

McCullum heaped praise Starc and told cricket.com.au, “Mitchell Starc in the World Cup final, he was too good for me. You can’t be too proud to admit when someone’s better than you: that’s the beauty of the game. I walked off, I was content that I tried my best but Mitchell Starc on his day was too good. When he’s on song, he’s tough to play. He’s coming from 6 foot 7 or whatever he is, he’s bowling 150kph and swings the ball from the left arm.”

Starc finished the tournament as the joint-highest wicket-taker of the tournament alongside Trent Boult. The lanky left-arm pacer scalped 22 wickets in the entire tournament and bowled magnificently in every game. McCullum feels he can be one of the greatest and has a bright future.

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He said, “There have been guys who have had an impact for short periods of time and that’s why I can’t wait to see Mitchell Starc’s development over the next few years,” McCullum said.

Because if he keeps doing what he’s done for a period of time, then that puts him in that category (amongst the best bowlers in the world).” “A guy like Mitchell Johnson did it for 13 years, (as did) Brett Lee in his pomp, Jason Gillespie, Glenn McGrath. Jimmy (James) Anderson with the Dukes ball, Stuart Broad as well – they’ve done it for a long, long period of time. Mitchell Starc’s got huge skills, and I’m not being disrespectful when I say it, but I think those others guys have had a bigger impact for longer”, McCullum added.

Fast bowlers are prone to injures and starc has already been struggling with it. An ankle injury had kept him out of action for a good part of the 2016.

McCullum feels if Starc manages to remain fit, he will certainly make a huge impact in the distant future.

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“When he’s bowling as well as what he can, he’s a complete world-beater.  The challenge for Mitch, which we’ve seen over the last year or so, is that consistency. But I think he’s gotten bigger, he’s gotten faster and I think he’s understood his skills a little more over the last little while. So the next couple of years will be really interesting, especially to see how he comes back from this injury. It’s good for the game when he’s playing and at his best, because there aren’t too many commodities like him.”