‘Starc applied and backed himself’
PUNE: After India had dished out true surfaces during the Tests against England and Bangladesh, Australia’s struggle on Day One of the Pune Test brought the focus back on turning tracks.
The Aussies were reeling at 205/9 but Mitchell Starc’s rearguard action took them past 250 and into the second day.
The last pair of Starc and Hazlewood added unbeaten 51 in 12.1 overs, taking the Aussies to 256/9. The partnership left India’s batting coach, Sanjay Bangar, disappointed.
“Obviously we would have been very happy had we batted in the evening. But we have seen in the past when our lower order has contributed a lot,” he said. “So, all credit to Starc because he came out and backed himself to play those shots. Because of that partnership they were able to end the day in a good position. I think we were expecting them to be bowled out for around 230 or selves.”
Bangar brushed aside the criticism of the pitch.
“The batsmen who applied themselves have shown that runs can be scored on this track. It’s not that there was variable bounce. As Team India we never complain of any pitch when you go abroad, and it’s just a Day 1 of a Test match,” Bangar added.
It was an exceptional knock from Starc who upped the ante on his own in a desperate situation. Initially, it seemed as if the message from the Australian think-tank was to score as many runs as possible. But as they approached the close of play; well aware of the fact that they can extend their innings to the next day, Starc toned down and saw off the day with Hazlewood. By then Starc had struck five boundaries and three sixes.
“When you go to England, you negotiate seaming ball, in Australia you negotiate the bouncing ball and when you come to India you negotiate the turning ball. If you see, at the end of the day the score is still 256/9 and