as subpar, putting focus on him to improve. His more consistent bowling in the second match was undone by momentary lapses, and throughout the series he was less effective with the older ball than India's bowlers. During the series Starc faced heavy criticism for his dip in form, including from former Australian Test cricketer Shane Warne. Starc made a deliberate effort to keep the criticism out of his mind and focus on his own bowling, deciding to focus on bowling at high pace instead of swing. This resulted in a return to form in the following Test series against Sri Lanka, where his bowling speed consistently reached 150 km/h. He was instrumental in setting up Australia's series clinching win in the second Test with a ten-wicket haul. Scans after the match revealed that Starc had torn his left pectoral muscle, so he was declared unavailable for Australia's tour of India in February and March 2019. He was set to return for the following ODI series against Pakistan in the UAE, but when he returned to bowling he aggravated his injury again, setting back his recovery. In April 2019, he was named in Australia's squad for the 2019 Cricket World Cup, and he finally returned to cricket during Australia's preparation for the 2019 Cricket World Cup in May. In his first match back, a warm-up match against a team from New Zealand, he only bowled five overs but was already up to his normal pace and took bowling figures of 2/15. He was seen as a very important part of Australia's chances at the World Cup because of his performance in 2015, but his lack of recent match practice but into doubt how well he'd bowl this time. 2019 Cricket World Cup Australia's first match of the World Cup was against the West Indies. Starc took five wickets in Australia's 15-run win, including wickets at crucial times of the match to ensure Australia would get across the line. One of his wickets was a controversial dismissal of West Indies batsman Chris Gayle. Umpire Chris Gaffaney judged Gayle to be out twice in one over off of Starc's bowling, once caught behind and once leg before wicket (lbw), but on both occasions Gayle used the Decision Review System (DRS) to overturn the umpire's decision. In a later over, Gaffaney again judged Gayle to be out lbw off of Starc's bowling, and Gayle