The Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc has challenged Craig McMillan to face him in the nets after the Black Caps batting coach questioned the legitimacy of his record-setting delivery on Sunday.
Starc set tongues wagging when he sent down a 160.4km/h delivery during the third day of the second Test against NZ at the WACA Ground.
The delivery, a yorker to Ross Taylor - fell just shy of Shoaib Akhtar's world record mark of 161.3km/h set in a 2003 one-dayer against England.
But McMillan said there was no way Starc's delivery was actually that fast.
"Maybe someone in the truck was having a bit of fun," McMillan said.
"It looked pretty similar to a lot of the other deliveries throughout the day that were closer to 150 than 160," he said.
Did Mitchell Starc really clock 160kph in the WACA test? Photo: Photosport
"I'm not sure whether maybe the wrong button was pushed or what. I was a bit surprised when I saw it come up on the TV, because I think a couple of the spinner's deliveries were quite high as well," he said.
"I just wonder whether there was a technical problem down at the truck that maybe led to that."
Starc was somewhat evasive when asked whether he thought the delivery was accurately recorded.
But he was keen for McMillan to find out first hand.
"I'm happy for him to face me in the nets tomorrow if he wants," Starc said with a grin.
McMillan is no stranger to express bowling after facing Akhtar at his fastest.
Shaun Tait (161.1km/h) and Brett Lee (161.1km/h) are other bowlers who have been clocked at more than 160km/h.
Starc regularly bowled in the 150s against the Kiwis, with his scintillating pace even breaking the bat of Brendon McCullum, who was lucky the flying chunk didn't deflect onto his stumps.
-AAP
