Mitchell Starc criticised for giving aggressive send-off to debutant Mitchell Santner

Mitchell Starc waits for Mitchell Santner to look up after taking his wicket

The first ever Day/Night Test, currently being played at Adelaide between Australia and New Zealand, started off on a sombre tone with tributes to Phillip Hughes – the Australian cricketer whose date of passing away coincided with the first day of the Test.

However, as the action ensued and the pink ball started swerving, the Australian bowlers showed that they meant business from the very onset. Mitchell Starc, who had faced a lot of ire for directing a throw at Mark Craig in his follow through in the last Test, was involved in some controversy before dinner as well.

Debutant Mitchell Santner came in to bat for the Kiwis with their innings at a perilous stage, with them having lost half their side before crossing 100. Santner plodded along to 31 before falling to a straight ball from Starc, becoming his third victim of the day.

Not being satisfied with taking Santner’s wicket, Starc let his words fly as well, as the disappointed batsman prepared to walk back to the pavilion. "What are you looking at, c**t?" was what a number of amateur lip-readers on Twitter suggested Starc had said.

Santner hit his first Test ball for a boundary, bringing the 100 up for his team. He is considered to be a very bright prospect for New Zealand cricket’s future.

The Australian side had come under fire for their unsportsmanship in the second test when their players didn't shake hands with New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor after he walked back after his mammoth innings of 290 in the second test in Perth earlier this month.

Starc was fined NZ$8300 - half his match fee - in the first test when he threw the ball at Mark Craig.

The left-armer later left the field in Adelaide with an apparent ankle injury after claiming three New Zealand wickets.

WICKET 6/142 "Just a wicket taking machine" - Smith. Santner misses the straight one. Starc has another. #AUSvNZ pic.twitter.com/FGickkRqt5

— Wide World of Sports (@WWOS9) November 27, 2015

Mitch Starc commemorating the anniversary of the Guardianship of cricket by giving Santner the full spittle send-off

— Sports Freak (@Sportsfreakconz) November 27, 2015

Hope Santner runs down the pavilion and gives Starc a send off as he walks off.

— Cameron McMillan (@cam_mcmillan) November 27, 2015

Such a hero Mitchell Starc. Calling Santner a c**t? On the 1st anniv of Phil Hughes death? As impressive as your Ashes performance mate...

— Martin Devlin (@DevlinLive) November 27, 2015

Apparently Starc just told Santner that he wanted to "C U Next Time"

— Michael Wagener (@Mykuhl) November 27, 2015

Going to love watching Mitch Santner on his @BLACKCAPS test debut. The natural Vettori replacement for the next 10+ years #NDKnights

— Scott Styris (@scottbstyris) November 27, 2015