Aussie quick Mitchell Starc has implored the Australian curators to provide challenging wickets this summer in the Ashes to help the host bowlers topple a solid English batting line-up. But this could work against Nathan Lyon playing all five Tests if the pitches produced are spicy and seam-friendly.
Starc returned to red-ball cricket on Monday for NSW in the Sheffield Shield and admitted he is still trying to find his rhythm ahead of the Ashes. Despite taking four wickets, Starc found it hard to get consistency with the left-arm quick going for 91 runs off 18 overs. The SCG pitch offered plenty for the batters with Peter Handscomb and Campbell Kellaway both among the runs.
Mitchell Starc has called for pitches that probably won’t suit Nathan Lyon. Image: Getty
And Starc has called for the curators to provide more lively wickets against England. Batting has seemingly become more difficult across the last 10 years in Australia with pitches and the new Kookaburra offering batters a new challenge.
On the other hand, Joe Root and the English side have gone the other way producing flat wickets to promote their ‘BazBall’ approach in Test cricket. This has allowed the batters to get gain the upper-hand as they attack the bowlers.
This has worked for them in England, but Starc wants Australia to play to their advantage – like they did against India last summer – and offer pitches that will trouble the English. And he was asked if the English batters will go down swinging if the pitches allow them to.
“Yeah, no doubt, especially if they’re pretty docile wickets like this,” Starc said of the SCG pitch. “We know the way they’re trying to play their cricket, so we’ll worry about it next week.”
There is always talk around curators finding the balance to make exciting wickets, that can extend the match to help boost revenue for Cricket Australia. But Starc didn’t want the curators to be influenced on their decision. “I hope the groundsmen stick to their guns and prepare the wickets they want,” he said. “If we’re worried about five days of revenue, then there’s bigger problems at hand.”
Aussie quick Mitchell Starc (pictured left) has implored the Australian curators to provide challenging wickets this summer in the Ashes, which could work against Nathan Lyon (pictured right) and his place in the XI. (Images: Getty Images)
Mitchell Starc (pictured right) has called for curators to offer up lively pitches during the Ashes.
Both Steve Smith and Travis Head are also in the same boat as Starc having called for lively wickets to again be produced this summer. Averages for Australian batters have dropped considerably across the last decade. This decade the average stands at 31.93, compared to 41.47 in the 2010s and 42.39 in the 2000s.
The series against India showcased how hard it was to score runs at the beginning of the innings with Jasprit Bumrah causing havoc to the Aussie line-up Although Australia’s bowling depth showed with the quicks – including Scott Boland – dominating at some point in the series. And this raises the question on whether Lyon could find himself left out of the XI if the conditions favour fast-bowling.
Will Nathan Lyon play the whole Ashes series?
Lyon has been a mainstay in the Aussie red-ball team having taken 553 wickets throughout his Test career. However, Lyon was sensationally dropped for the third and final Test against the West Indies earlier this year. This was to bring in Boland who ended up destroying the West Indies batting line-up.
The spinner did find himself on the periphery in the previous home series against India, where he featured sparingly with the ball and only managed nine wickets across the five Tests. And Starc’s suggestion similar pitches should be used as last summer could work against Lyon.
Brendan Doggett (pictured) is putting his hand up for an Ashes debut this series.
With Boland set to take Pat Cummins’ place for at least the first Test, there are also suggestions Brendan Doggett could come into the XI. The quick was selected in Australia’s 15-player squad for the first Test in Perth.
And he reminded selectors of his form having taken 5-66 off 19.2 overs against Tasmania on Monday to put his hand up for selection at some point in the series. If selectors feel Perth might offer more to the quicks, Doggett could become a real option as the fourth front-line bowler instead of Lyon.