Starc still the main man, Marsh says
Spinners may have shone in Pune but all-rounder has no doubts over pace ace’s importance
Fast bowler Mitchell Starc remains Australia’s most potent weapon with the ball despite their spinners stealing the show in the series opener against India, teammate Mitchell Marsh said yesterday.
On the turning track in Pune, left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe bagged 12 wickets while slow-bowling partner Nathan Lyon took five as the touring side thumped India by 333 runs inside three days in the first match of the fourTest series.
The nature of the pitch meant left-armer Starc bowled only 11 overs in the first Test but his workload could increase significantly at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium which hosts the second Test from tomorrow.
“He’s one of the best bowlers in the world, if not the best bowler in the world,” all-rounder Marsh told reporters yesterday. “He’s certainly the best reverse swing bowler in the world.
“In these conditions, whilst all the talk has been about the spinners he’s still our biggest weapon, I think.
“It’s great if he’s in the Indians’ heads, hopefully he can take a few wickets for us.”
The Bengaluru track is not expected to provide as much turn as Pune for the slow bowlers and the pacemen’s ability to reverse swing the old ball could prove crucial.
Reverse swing hopes
Marsh said Australia is well equipped in that department with Starc and Josh Hazlewood in their side.
“In Pune the wicket itself did a lot of work for us, it’s not necessarily the square here,” Marsh said. “These balls scuff up well early on. Reverse swing will be huge for us.
“If we can get it going we’ve got two of the best reverse swing bowlers in the world. They will still be huge weapons for us.”