Shane Warne. Photo / Getty Images
According to Shane Warne, he never called Mitchell Starc "soft".
And it seems he won't be doing it any time soon after the lanky Australian quick stood tall on day three of the second test against India in Brisbane yesterday.
Body language was not a concern for Starc as he first raised his bat with a valuable 52 before punching the air after bowling Indian dangerman Murali Vijay for 27.
Starc looked like a broken man on day one, when he wilted in the sweltering Gabba heat, at one stage leaving the field for treatment.
It followed Nine Network commentator Warne's description of Starc's body language while bowling as "soft".
The legendary leggie later went into damage control, even claiming he did not say it.
But the nightmare continued for Starc on day two when he lost his way with the ball, at one stage conceding 27 runs in a three over spell.
He finished with 0-83 off just 17 overs in India's first innings of 408.
But Starc showed tremendous character yesterday, chiming in with his fourth test half-century as the Australian tail wagged.
He was the last man to fall, helping Australia recover from 247-6 to make 505 and a lead of 97 runs.
Remarkably, it lifted Starc's first-class Gabba batting average to 84.
Unfortunately, his Gabba bowling average was 103 - then he was thrown the ball in India's second dig.
A rejuvenated Starc struck in just his second over after first innings centurion Vijay chopped on.
Suddenly, Starc looked more like Mitchell Johnson.
He punched the air in triumph and showed plenty of energy afterwards, even eyeballing opener Shikhar Dhawan in his follow through.
At stumps on day three, Starc had 1-10 off four overs - and Warne liked what he saw.
"He's looking a lot better than in the first innings," he said on the Nine Network.
"Body language is much better."
Warne was sitting more comfortably after backpedalling over his day one comment, which earned the ire of Australian coach Darren Lehmann.
Starc, 24, has been in and out of the side since his test debut in 2011.
Remarkably, Starc had featured in nine different series but was appearing in just his 14th test.
Former test opener Michael Slater hinted it would not have aided Starc's confidence - and perhaps his body language.
"I don't think that would have helped him - I think he plays best when he strings games together," he said on the Nine Network.
Steve Smith scored 133 in his first test as captain, reinforcing his leadership credentials.
Smith and Johnson (88) shared a ground-record counter-attacking 148-run partnership for the seventh wicket.
And after Smith and Johnson fell in the same over from Ishant Sharma (3-117), Starc chimed in with his cameo.
Smith, standing in for injured skipper Michael Clarke, became the first Australian since Greg Chappell in 1975 to score a hundred in his first innings as test captain.
- AAP