Mitchell Starc credits Andre Adams for red-ball revival

Starc's returns meant that the visitors were bowled out for 215 in the first innings in reply to Australia's 534/5 declared. The hosts then declared their second innings on 196/3, setting Sri Lanka 516 runs to win on Sunday, 3 February.

And even as Usman Khawaja registered an unbeaten century in the second innings, the focus was on Starc, whose returns of 13 wickets in seven innings in Australia's 2-1 series loss to India this summer had led to questions over his place in the side.

It was before the Sri Lanka Tests that Starc sought help from Adams, who is the bowling coach at New South Wales, and it worked for him. "I had a really nice session with Andre Adams before the Sri Lankan series," Starc said after the day.

"It was great to talk to him about getting that feeling back, rather than having to do anything technically – I've played enough cricket to know what works and doesn’t work and to go back to things that set me straight.

"It was more that feeling of the ball coming out of the hand nicely and getting and timing and rhythm back. The rhythm has felt quite good throughout the summer."

Starc had come in for criticism from former Australia cricketer Shane Warne and former England captain Michael Vaughan, but the left-arm pacer said he hadn't been listening to the "450" coaches offering him advice.

"I am my own best coach and I know what’s best for me," Starc said.

"Perhaps little things haven’t been quite there that resulted in not-so-good stuff. It’s been great to chat to him (Adams) and even Mitch Johnson and other guys I’ve worked with quite closely over the years to get that mindset back."

The 29-year-old admitted that the criticism had got to him but keeping himself off social media and the belief shown by his teammates helped him through the tough period.

"It probably wore me down a bit going into new years’, then I got off all the social media and haven’t read a paper in four or five weeks," he said.

"That’s been the best thing for me, made me feel quite refreshed. As long as I know I have the backing of my teammates and I’m working hard, it will turn eventually.

"If you’re doing the right thing it can feel like it’s a long way away but things turned pretty quickly for me today."