The highly coveted Ashes series is known as a tournament that scripts history. In this year's Ashes - we have witnessed Steve Smith's double hundred, Mitchell Marsh's maiden Test century and now here is a delivery which can only come out from a magicians hat, a delivery which is now being recognised as the 'Ball of the 21st century'. It was during the fourth day of the 3rd Test between Australia and England at Perth when pacer Mitchell Starc bowled an absolute ripper which England batsman James Vince could not read. Starc's delivery had taken off from the crack to knock the off-stump off of the batsman! It was more like Vince watching a thunderbolt being struck at him.
Bowling from around the wicket from the Prindiville Stand End, Starc's delivery was fired down at 143.9 kph which snaked in on the turf's crack and simply cannoned through Vince's off-stump.
Legends like Shane Warne and Wasim Akram were also left awestruck with the left-armers delivery. It was Warne's delivery to Mike Gatting which was described as the greatest ball that was ever bowled. The former leg-spinner was in the commentary box when he stated that it was 'the ball of the ashes and the summer', cricket.com.au quoted Warne.
Wasim Akram too lauded Starc's delivery and mentioned that it reminded him of his bowling days and made all the left-arm pacers proud. Many cricketers took to Twitter to describe Starc's delivery as the 'ball of the century'.
Australia currently lead the five-match Ashes series by 2-0 and will eyeing to win the series unless the English batsmen make a miraculous comeback on the fifth and final day of the third Test. A win in Perth would see the hosts regain the urn as rain played spoilsport on the fourth day. England trail by 259 runs in the first innings after the hosts declared at 662/9, the visitors were 132/4 when rain interrupted and stopped the play. Joe Root's team are still behind the hosts by 127 runs.
