Australia‘s legendary cricketer Ricky Ponting has opened up about the factors contributing to Mitchell Starc‘s remarkable success in Test cricket. The speedster recently crossed the 400-wicket milestone in the format, becoming one of the most feared fast bowlers in the world. Ponting, speaking to ICC, highlighted the mental cues and physical toughness that have shaped Starc’s consistent performance over the years.

Ricky Ponting on Mitchell Starc’s secret to success in Test cricket

Ponting revealed a fascinating detail about Starc’s mental approach to the game, pointing out how the fast bowler uses a wrist tape with a motivational reminder to stay locked in.

“When I talk about working out his own game, you’ve probably seen it and heard about in the past, but he wears a bit of tape on his, I think it’s his right wrist, his non-bowling hand,” Ponting said.

“And he’s just got a couple of words, which is just a reminder for him of what he has to do and how he has to think about it mentally,” he added.

Notably, the tape gained widespread attention in 2019 when fans spotted the phrase “f*** it, bowl fast” written on it during a match. It symbolised Starc’s aggressive mindset — blocking out distractions and sticking to his natural strength: raw pace. Ponting suggested that this small yet powerful tactic is a self-motivating tool that keeps Starc mentally aligned with his bowling goals.

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Ponting heaps praises on Starc’s mental toughness

Beyond mindset, Ponting emphasized Starc’s durability and mental strength as key reasons for his 400+ Test wickets. He praised Starc’s ability to manage physical discomfort while still delivering match-winning performances.

“So those little things, I think, are things you learn along the way with the more experience that you have. He’s physically going along as well as ever,” Ponting added.

“He’s always had those little niggles like all fast bowlers do but he finds a way to push through them, he plays games out with niggles and that’s why he’s standing there now with 400 Test wickets next to his name,” Ponting explained further stating it is Starc’s refusal to back down despite injuries that sets him apart — a trait only the most elite bowlers carry.

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