off the mark

The left-hander took 13 balls to get off the mark and struck two sweet boundaries off Smith before edging to give Smith a first Test wicket.

Williamson took 14 balls to get off the mark, supporting the fluent Latham.

But while Itula is quick off the mark and eloquent, the vice-president chooses her words wisely, and speaks slowly and deliberately.

It took Chris until week eight to get off the mark this season, but he has not stopped winning since.

Chris had to wait a long time for his first win of the season but, after finally getting off the mark in week eight, he is now celebrating back-to-back victories.