5 instances when Mitchell Starc crossed the line

Mitchell Starc hurling the ball at New Zealand’s Mark CraigAustralian fast bowler Mitchell Starc is clearly one of the best modern-day cricketers. He is the second-ranked One-day International bowler in the world, is athletic on the field and a handy lower-order batsman.His express pace with his accurate length makes him a lethal bowler who is feared across the world. He is also lauded because he is passionate about his game and wears his heart on his sleeves.However, in spite of being a cricketer of true value, his passion can sometimes turn into overt aggression, resulting in inappropriate behaviour. In the ongoing Test series between Australia and New Zealand, Starc has been criticised by all pundits for his misdemeanor against Mark Craig.So, let’s take a look at five times the talented seamer has crossed the line on the cricket field:

#1 A game of dodgeball with Mark Craig

Starc is getting embroiled in several on-field altercations

In the final day of the first Test between Australia and New Zealand at the Gabba, Mitchell Starc let out his frustration by throwing a ball at New Zealand batsman Mark Craig.

The incident occurred in the 84th over as New Zealand's final pair, Craig and Trent Boult were holding off the Australians in their push for victory before lunch. Craig had just struck two consecutive fours off Starc and the third ball of the over was pushed back to the bowler. Starc picked up the ball anddirected his throw close to the batsman and not at the stumps.

Starc was fined 50% of his match fee by match referee Roshan Mahanama over the incident, after he admitted breaching Article 2.2.8 of the ICC Code of Conduct, relating to throwing a ball at or near a player in an inappropriate and/or dangerous manner.

In a rare instance, Australian Captain Steve Smith has condemned his bowlers behaviour, instead of suppporting it. Smith said the incident was "pretty disappointing," and he noted that it was not the first time Starc had failed to keep his cool and thrown a ball in a batsman's direction.

#2 When he got Kieran Pollard angry

Kieron Pollard almost threw a bat at Starc because of his unruly behaviour

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has had its share of altercaltions but the ugly confrontation between Starc and Kieron Pollard in 2014 IPL had to be of the most unsavoury. Never before have we seen temperatures soar to a point where there could have been imminent bodily harm to another player.

It wasa match between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). MIwere trying to build a good total as Starc came back to bowl to the dangerous Pollard in the slog overs. He first bowled a short one, that Pollard couldnt play. They then had a heatedexchange of words, with Pollard gesturing Starc to back-off.

As Starc was running in, Pollard took a step or two down the track. At the very last minute, he backed away and moved away from the pitch. However,the Australianstillcontinued and angled a full-paced delivery towards Pollard.

As it went past the West Indian, helost his temper and almost threw the bat in Starcs direction because ofthe seamersunnecessary provocation. If Pollard had not stopped himself at the last moment, the bat could have flown towards Starc and perhaps hurt him.

#3 When the send-off for Murali Vijay was too celebratory

Starc’s ‘exaggerated celebration’ for Murali Vijay was uncalled for

This happened during India’s tour of Australia in 2014-15. During the fourth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Starc’s ‘exaggerated celebration’ got him into trouble. The game of cricket believes that it is a player’s responsibility to extend respect to his opponent and to play within the spirit of the game at all times.

The pacer was issued an official reprimand following his send-off of India opener Murali Vijay. After he claimed the batsmen’s wicket, Starc appeared to scream at Vijay and give him an inappropriate send-off.

The charge was laid by the on-field umpires Kumar Dharmasena and Richard Kettleborough. The 25-year old was booked after admitting to a breach of Article 2.1.8 of the ICC Code of Conduct which relates to conduct that "either : (a) is contrary to the spirit of the game; or (b) brings the game into disrepute."

In spite of some excellent bowling, Starc’s behaviour was the one thing that was constantly talked about in the whole series as he has been frequently participating in verbal duels.

#4 When he threw the ball at Ben Stokes

Starc shot the ball straight at the stumps but it looked like it was meant for the batsman Stokes

The second ODI betweenEngland andAustralia at the Lords in September 2015 witnessed the birth of a new controversy involving Ben Stokes and Mitchell Starc. Stokes suffered a rare dismissal of obstructing the field while trying to defend himself from a throw which Mitchell Starc aimed at him.

Stokes pushed the ball back to the bowler and his momentum had taken him out of his crease. Starc immediately hurled the ball back to the strikers end like a missile. It seemed like the Englishman was taking evasive action and in the process, the ball got a bit of his left hand while he appeared to duck.

Starc and the rest of the Australians went for the appeal, with the third umpire shockingly adjudging him out after finding the batsman in question guilty for the same. England lost their fourth wicket with 141 on board as a result of the dismissal, with Stokes becoming the sixth batsman in the history of the format to be adjudged out in that manner.

Later, England captain Eoin Morgan and his Aussie counterpart Steve Smith had a war of words when Morgan expressed his displeasure. He said that he would havewithdrawn the appeal if he was Smith.

#5 When the umpire cautioned Starc

Umpire Dharmasena cautioned the seamer to keep a hold on his unprovoked sledging

Something about the World Cup brings out passions you never thought existed. If it is a semi-final encounter between India and Australia (the newest rivals because India doesn’t play Pakistan as much anymore), then verbal altercations will be rampant.

During the 2015 World Cup, Australia had set the mammoth score of 328/7 for India to chase down. Tension was rife as both teams were battling it out in the middle.

The incident occured when Suresh Raina's entry to the middle, after Rohit Sharma's wicket, stirred Mitchell Starc to anger. After a relatively sedate over to Ajinkya Rahane, Starc's next had the bowler firing down three short balls at Raina. It is common knowledge that Raina’s bane is the short ball.

The third was slower and wider than the first two, and was called by umpire Kumar Dharmasena. So far it was good but the follow-up was far more venomous than the ball itself, as the pacer followed through extravagantly and delivered strong words in the direction of Raina.

Another wide followed and after Starc had finished the over with a ball on the stumps, he was spoken to most pointedly by Dharmasena about his overt aggression. The speedster obviously did not take entirely kindly to it.