Pace battery eyes western thunder
MITCHELL Starc has called on curators to send the WACA out in style by farewelling England with an oldschool venomous pitch.
The fire and brimstone synonymous with Perth has been missing in recent years but Starc is hoping for one last blazing WACA deck before Test cricket moves to a new stadium.
Australia’s fast-bowling trio dismantled England in Adelaide but Starc has warned Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and himself are only getting better as they eye a golden opportunity to lift the urn by making it 3-0 in Perth.
“Obviously we won’t know until we get there next week, but hopefully we see a nice fast, bouncy wicket,” Starc said.
“Hopefully a WACA of old and we can get stuck into their batters again.
“Pace and bounce (are the keys in Perth). It’s been a pretty good place to bat the last few years so if that’s the case, it’ll be a good chance for our batters to cash in on a good wicket.
“It’s another chance for us to go with hopefully a good fast and bouncy track at the WACA – the last of the bigger Tests at the WACA – and hopefully a good track is prepared for us.”
Starc leads the wicket-taking tally with 14, while Cummins and Hazlewood have consistently claimed the key England scalps.
In 38 Tests, Starc has only played two alongside his fellow quicks, but already he believes it is the best-rounded attack he has been a part of.
“The exciting thing is our bowling group can still get better,” Starc said.
“We’ve managed to take 40 wickets in the last couple of weeks and do some really good things, but I think there’s still a lot of room for improvement.
“It’s great to be on top. “We spend so much of the time off the field as a group as well. We’re really close mates so I think that shows in the way we play our cricket.
“Gazza (Nathan Lyon) is bowling outstanding at the moment. That allows the other three of us to do what we need to do from one end.
“Josh does what he does and allows Pat and I to bowl as fast as we want.”
HOPEFULLY WE SEE A NICE FAST, BOUNCY WICKET. HOPEFULLY A WACA OF OLD AND WE CAN GET STUCK INTO THEIR BATTERS AGAIN MITCHELL STARC