Mitchell Starc has long been seen as the leader of the Australian bowling attack, but the 28-year-old could be the key to India getting the upper hand in the upcoming Test series.
Starc graduated from potential star to realising his potential as the ‘best’ fast bowler in Australia in front of our very eyes, and he has been held in such regard since his valedictory, when Mitchell Johnson retired.
With him, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, Australia’s fast-bowling brigade has the perfect perceived mix of raw pace and metronomic precision.
Yet, it has become apparent that reliability only comes from three quarters of Australia’s main bowling quartet, and reliability itself is the key to any successful team.
Cummins is operating at a high level in his five Test matches in 2018, with 30 wickets at an average of 19.7, while Hazlewood has a poor 15 wickets at 38.1, yet achieved an economy rate of 2.8 and produced far more with his tight bowling than his statistics suggest.
The concern lies with Mitch Starc, the man who leads the charge for the Australians.
Australia’s Mitchell Starc celebrates after taking a wicket. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
In six matches, Starc has 16 wickets at 36.3, but has leaked 3.64 runs per over.
This isn’t a revelation by any stretch of the imagination – Starc’s career economy rate is 3.42.
Comparatively, Cummins concedes just 2.92 runs per over and has a far better bowling average, while Hazlewood’s career economy rate is 2.8, while also having a better bowling average. Both players average more wickets per game in general, while only Hazlewood’s strike rate is worse off than Starc’s.
Australian cricket has transitioned into a period of relative unknowns.
The batting is, at times, ad hoc. There isn’t a sense of stability in personnel and even if there is, the order itself is constantly changing.
It places greater importance on the reliability of the bowling attack to keep the opposition to totals that the batting order can work towards.
In the past, Starc’s economy rate hasn’t been an issue when he got the big wickets and the batting line-up featured a number of players sure to score 50+.
In the current climate, however, Starc’s combination of high economy rate and lack of wickets makes him an easy target for the Indian team.
Breaking down the three pace bowlers, it seems clear that Hazlewood is the most reliable bowler, Cummins may well be the best player in the team at the moment, while Starc produces the most dangerous deliveries.
Through all the injuries and subsequent absences the trio have gone through, it has always seemed a fait accompli that the three would not only be the Australian quicks, but they’d form the best bowling attack in the world.
For this to happen, it’s time the coaching staff and fans alike acknowledged the fact that Starc isn’t the best bowler on the team, and needs to be used sparingly in matches.
Those who are really critical of Starc may suggest he only produces the aforementioned dangerous deliveries very rarely during a single innings, and the rest of his bowling is unreliable and at times, in the slot.
Mitch Starc (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
On too many occasions have we seen him unable to get tail-enders out due to an unwillingness to bowl at the stumps, or an inability to produce the “magic” deliveries.
It’s for this reason that India will target Starc, given how important he is to the Australian mindset at the present time.
They have a good record against the bowler, and know they only need to be aware of a few potential hazards firing in at the stumps in the countless overs he will bowl.
For Australia to successfully challenge India, Starc needs to bowl less and make his production more impactful.
No longer is this a time for him to bowl 25 overs, when Nathan Lyon, Hazlewood and Cummins can all bowl 25+ overs and produce more consistent and dangerous spells.
Given Australia is blessed with such quality in its attack, it affords the team an opportunity to allow Starc to recapture his magic while allowing the other three bowlers to justifiably grab more in-game opportunities.
Starc being seen as the leader of the Australian bowling attack needs to be treated as an antiquated notion that can no longer exist, given the pressures it places on one player, and the lack thereof for others.
Every other bowling attack in the world works to complement each other and focus on the team game.
Starc will begin to produce more when the pressure is released on him and the spotlight is shared.
For the time being, he is the most hittable and overall, the least impactful of all Australia’s bowlers.
If this doesn’t change quickly, India will be able to pounce on him and the Australian XI.
dan ced
Guest
If one of the big three get injured, or prove entirely ineffective, than Tremain should get a go I think.
Munro Mike
Roar Rookie
I've suggested this a couple of times now on other threads. Australia has Hazlewood and Cummins who missed big chunks of the winter due to back issues and Starc who missed from the 4th test v SthAfrica with leg issues and struggled with hammy queries in the UAE and is not at his best. 3 big bowlers with fitness question marks during what otherwise would be considered the 'pre-season' leading into 4 home tests v India in 33 days. Given the apparent green pitch in Adelaide - would Tim Paine and Langer lean towards retention of Siddle? Since Durban - Starc has 8 test wkts at 60. 3 other FC wickets at 60. And a handful of OD wickets at about 39. And 1 T20I wicket. He hasn't taken more than a 2fer in that time. Cummins had no cricket between March 30 and Oct 1. Since then, he's played some U23 games, OD's and one shield match. Hardly ideal preparation. Best return a 3 fer. Has he done enough? Is he right to go? (and yes he was very good in South Africa).
Munro Mike
Roar Rookie
....and stop eating baked beans......
Hari
Guest
Bring it on, all the experienced pacers, but don't put Indian batting lineup under real pressure by attacking our Achilles heel. No debutant bowlers please!!!
Mashrur
Roar Rookie
Nah i don't agree with u mate. U see, the importance of Starc is felt whenever he misses a test match. For example, the Melbourne Ashes test match last summer. Aus struggled without him in that game. Yes i agree that in 2018 he hasn't been in the best of his form but that was bcoz of some injuries. But when he is fit and firing, he is definitely the best in the world.
1st&10
Guest
The fast bowling depth is good They also have good batting talent and all can develop into legitimate bowling all rounder (the rarest and most valuable jem a team can have ie Kallis, Botham, Hadlee etc
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
Yep, Starc is the most over-rated bowler Oz has had since Brett Lee. Of late especially he has no line or length and worse, has lost his ability to swing the ball. And given his recent record, he shouldn't even be in the Test team. I don't recall any players who've been retained after 8 consecutive failures. It must be that sole selector Langer showing his anti-WA bias again...
Is Don Is Good
Guest
The stark reality is that Starc may never be as good as he was when Davey was doing the ball polishing?
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
To me, Starc is one of those bowlers who really needs to be fully fit and have his rhythm right to be properly effective. Some bowlers can still do well when running at 80% fitness, some can't. I often look at the speed gun for Starc. Often he bowls his best and most accurate when he's also bowling his fastest, because both speed and accuracy click into place when his body is healthy and his rhythm is good. If he's able to be fully healthy and get the rhythm going this summer, then he could do almost anything. I do often feel a bit sorry for Pat Cummins though. He'll put in all the hard work, look consistently like the best bowler on the park, but never get a chance with the new ball!
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I think Pattinson is a long way from pushing himself back into the test frame. He's shown in the past when returning with altered action to put less strain on his back that it also killed his effectiveness. When he went back to his old action he instantly became more lethal but also quickly got injured again. I'd be happy to be wrong, but I'm not putting a lot of stock in Pattinson as a real serious contender to be a test bowler at this point. Though, it is great to see him back playing test cricket again!
Steve Franklin
Roar Rookie
Yes i can't wait for that but one way he can solve global warming is to keep his mouth shut and keep in all his hot air.
danno
Guest
I think Starc is currently keeping M Marsh in the side (5th bowler).
Hamish Hutton
Roar Rookie
An interesting take, personally i would like to see Starc used more sparingly purely due to his effectiveness earlier on in his spells. I think he played ridiculously well last summer given as has already been mentioned in the comments his injury issues, it wouldn't take much for him to replicate it or better it imho. Here's one for you though, i think he might be a weapon in the Adelaide test with Shaw out, with India's opening pair being slightly unsettled an early wicket will certainly have his tail up and although i dont have the stats on me he performed well against Kohli in India from memory so there's certainly some room for optimism! Well presented argument as well mate, top job.
Paul
Roar Guru
Warne on global warming - great stuff, Matt
KenoathCarnt
Roar Rookie
Does*
KenoathCarnt
Roar Rookie
Starc seems to have certainly dropped of in the test format. If the ball is swinging he is always dangerous but offers nothing if it's not. Although seeing him come back from injury he certainly seems more fluent, faster and just generally energetic so maybe this could be a turn around. If the ball isn't swinging he just needs to be more accurate and use his angles well and can actually offer something different. This series will certainly answer questions and with Pattinson back he is certainly under the pump to perform. Not only doesn't Pattinson get something out of a useless pitch he offers greater batting depth then Starc.
Matt H
Roar Guru
That's ok, because when Starc came good Warne took the credit for forcing him to change his attitude and become more nasty. Stay tuned for Warne's latest explanation of how to solve global warming.
Dem Panopoulos
Expert
Thanks for that James. You’re right, the injuries must be frustrating and obviously have an impact. Starc, to me, has always been a bowler that can be attacked and our reliance on him is dangerous. Hopefully hitting that pace in short, sharp bursts instead of being the main go-to is what eventuates, because that’d certainly help him return to that peak form. You’re right about Johnson and Starc, maybe the brilliance mixed with the erratic nature of their bowling is what makes them spectacular. But with our current batting, we need Starc firing.
Steve Franklin
Roar Rookie
Wasn't it (know it all and i am the greatest captain never to have captained my country and greatest cricketer of all time )Shane Warne that said that he wouldn't amount to much in test cricket as a bowler?
JamesH
Roar Guru
That's an interesting take, Dem. I think Starc has always relied upon having consistent bowlers around him to be effective. From memory the selectors were always hesitant to play him in the same team as MJ because they couldn't afford them both to be off-song. They are both bowlers used best in short, sharp bursts, which doesn't work too well when you only have one other quick. At the same time, Starc's decline in form has coincided with a frustrating run of foot injuries. It must be difficult for an out-and-out quick to produce consistent spells when he's worrying about pain as in his bowling stride. Against England last summer, Starc took 22 wickets at 23.54, with an economy of 3.18 and a series-high (by a big margin) strike rate of 44.3. If he's 100% fit I think we'll see him find that consistency again this summer. He was operating with genuine heat in the Adelaide ODI (averaging over 150km/h at one point!) so that suggests he's feeling pretty good.