Starc Delivers 176.5 km/h Shock in ODI Opening Spell

Starc made the cricket world notice when his first ball at the first ODI against India national cricket team was recorded at 176.5 km/h and it remains a matter of debate as to whether this was the fastest ball ever in the history of One-Day International. That was followed by a period of brilliant and controversial performances as his speed shook the Indian top order but cast doubt on the correctness of the speed reading.

To begin with, it was the dismissal of Indian captain Rohit Sharma on 8 runs on 14 balls that achieved the purpose. The top order of India was shaken immediately by the left-arm pace of Starc. Next was the moment which immediately made headlines: his first ball to Rohit was recorded at 176.5 km/h a record never heard of in top level ODIs. But that is not how the story ends. Starc struck the very next important wicket of Virat Kohli with a duck, who nudged to the slips, and the top three of India started collapsing before they could ever take off.

Although the 176.5km/h value was causing a jolt in the social media and even in the cricket forums, some investigations followed immediately. As per several reports, the broadcast graphics subsequently fixed the speed of that delivery to approximately 140.8 km/h indicating that the 176.5 km/h rating must have been a technical fault. In case this figure was true, it would overtake the long-standing record of Shoaib Akhtar of 161.3 km/h in the 2003 World cup. However, it is a disputed entry of the 176.5 km/h listing until it has been verified. Anyway, since Starc was moving, and he wanted to go, he was scrambling India.

India had to be on the receiving end after the explosive beginning. The visitors had scored 21-2 within six overs when Rohit left early and Kohli duck. It took a heartbeat to complete the powerplay and the chase was not going to be an easy one.

It was hardly Starc as the rest of the Australian pace chooked India, but it was his pace spurt that heralded the start of the movie. The national media and statistics sounded immediately the alarm of the chaos: as the two cornerstones of the opposition are united in the pavilion earlier the other half innings usually crumble.

The hosts on the other hand were humming on that initial momentum. With a new figure of 131 in 26 overs (DLS method), Australia always walked through it reaching 131-3 in only 21.1 overs to win over the first in the series. Starc has not made any impression in the bowling innings, but it was effective.

The headline of 176.5 km/h was eye-catching by all accounts, but until the official books can attest to it the delivery will be under the what-if category in baseball history. In the case of India, failing the two top ones results in vulnerability: when the two fall, the innings may follow suit in a fraction of a second. To Australia, it is an indication that their speed wagon is still deadly and can bring about high-speed activities that can turn matches.

Although we might never be able to prove the reading 176.5 km/h, this is now the story of cricket. It revised the faster-ball chart in case it is confirmed. When fixed, it nevertheless points to the fact that Starc was capable of regular bowling over 140 km/h and of harassing world-class batters.

Starc’s dramatic opening delivery against India may or may not go down as the fastest ball in ODI history but it certainly shook up the contest. Whether verified or not, it cemented his reputation as one of the most fearsome pace bowlers of his era. The wider message for cricket fans and analysts: keep watching the speed guns, but also watch the context behind those numbers. Because in this case, the number triggered a story, but the performance delivered it.

For India, regrouping and addressing top-order fragility is a must. For Australia and Starc himself, it’s another chapter of pace, precision and potential records in the making. The gift of fear-factor in fast bowling? Starc delivered it.

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