India and Australia are nearly done with a short break they have got. The 2nd test match between the two teams in Delhi ended in 2 and half days. After the end of the 2nd test, half a dozen Australian cricketers have flown back home. While Warner is out injured, Cummins the skipper has flown back home to tend to his mother. Ashton Agar and Lance Morris were warming the benches, have gone back home to play domestic cricket.
The story so far –
Australia came to India with a hope of winning their first series for nearly 2 decades. Two of the most important members of the side were Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc. During the break, Hazlewood has made his way back home but Starc is primed to make a comeback for the 3rd test. Before the start of the game on Wednesday, the left arm pacer has dropped a huge hint on his status.
Is Mitchell Starc ready to go?
Speaking to Fox Sports, Starc has said that though he isn’t 100% fit, he is ready to grind it out. The left arm pacer said “I don’t think it’s going to be 100 percent for a fair while but certainly good enough – the ball is coming out quite nicely and I feel pretty much at full tilt. It wouldn’t be the first Test match I’ve played in some sort of discomfort. If I only played when I was 100 percent, I probably only would’ve played in five or ten Tests”
Australia can utilize Starc and gain one advantage –
Indian side is packed with right handed batters. The fact that Nathan Lyon hasn’t been as effective as much Ashwin or Jadeja have been will rankle the visitors. Starc could come in and with his follow through create the rough for Lyon to breach the defences of the right handed batters.
Starc said “Workload wise, body wise, there’s no concern at all … I’m completely comfortable with where my numbers are and where my body is at. You’ve got to be prepared to bowl at any point, whether that be looking like shorter spells but also working with the guy at the other end. (Another focus) is the footmarks that I can produce as well … I certainly produce more than the Indian guys, being heavier at the crease.”
Starc comments on Steve Smith captaincy –
One of the biggest talking points is Steve Smith assuming captaincy from Pat Cummins. Smith was the skipper when Australia came to India last in 2017 and lost the series 3-1. While they cannot win the Border Gavaskar Trophy this year, a 2-2 series result will dent Indian hopes of playing the WTC final. Speaking about Smith and his captaincy, Starc said “He’s done it for a long time, I’ve played a lot of cricket with Steve as captain as well, so personally it’s been pretty easy. The couple of Tests he had to do in Adelaide (filling in for Cummins in 2021 and 2022) were really successful for the group, so hopefully, it’s another great week for our team.”