Australian pacer Mitchell Starc admitted on Friday that things couldn’t have gone better for the hosts on the opening day of the pink-ball Test, saying it was a great start to the day and an even better finish. Starc was the standout performer on a lively Adelaide pitch, delivering a superb performance of 6/48, bowling India out for just 180 runs. The Australian top team then posted a score of 86/1 in the final session, putting the visitors in distress.

“Yes, a very good first day for us with the ball, I think. After that first hour, I think we were doing pretty well. So, yeah, a nice start to the test, but a nice first day for us. That’s it.” “A good end to the day, or a good day overall,” Starc said during the press conference.

The 34-year-old Starc struck the first blow by dismissing young Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal on the first ball of the game, giving himself a psychological advantage over the visitors from the start.

He said it was satisfying to dismiss Jaiswal for a first-ball duck after the Indian scored a century in the opening Test in Perth.

However, Starc warned that Australia needed to remain on guard in the second innings.

In Perth, Jaiswal had gone for a duck in the first innings but then scored a brilliant 161 in the second innings to lead India to a 295-run win.

“He (Jaiswal) had a good Test match last week. So yeah, nice to get it early. And then we have to work on him in the second inning, I think,” Starc said.

He was also asked if Jasprit Bumrah and Co. have faltered with their line and he gave an interesting answer: “I am not their bowling coach.”

Starc also noted that the third session under the lights was probably the most challenging for his batters, but praised the efforts of Nathan McSweeney and Marnus Labuschagne, who rose well to the difficult conditions.

Despite worrying efforts from Jasprit Bumrah and Harshit Rana, Australian openers McSweeney (38 not out) and Labuschagne (20 not out) were on target when stumps were called.

“Arguably the most difficult time to bat is the third session with the brand new pink ball. Finishing the day with a down, especially from Marnus and McSweeney who have battled through and are obviously able to withstand the pressure of a quality bowling attack… and still to come .” Out the other end with the chance to continue tomorrow.

“It was fantastic of them. So yeah, I’m very happy from there,” Starc added.

“Test cricket has changed a bit”

Starc felt that Test cricket had changed somewhat since he joined the Australian team, with many young, talented and fearless cricketers emerging from the Indian Premier League and making an impact in Test cricket.

“Yes, the game has changed. The game can change. I guess this is partly the T20 era, isn’t it? “Some of these guys have grown up through IPL cricket and there’s no fear or expectation of being very good. “They’re good right from the start and from the time they get into international cricket they’re quality players, whatever how old they are,” he said.

Citing the example of Jaiswal, who has four Test centuries at 22, Starc said: “We obviously saw Jaiswal a bit before last week and then obviously had a fantastic one in the second innings (in Perth) and in some cases. “The shots that Kumar (Nitish Reddy) played today were some special shots.

“Whether it’s T20 cricket or getting into Test cricket or next-generation no-fear cricket, I’ve been around long enough to see that change a little bit. And yeah, whether it’s less fear or just a bit more confidence when you get into international cricket, you have to ask the batters, but I’m sure it’s exciting to see.