Starc puzzled by lack of swing

Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc isn’t sure exactly why he hasn’t been able to get as much swing as usual since his return from injury late last year.
The quick has indicated that he believes it may be the balls they are using as his action hasn’t changed at all.
ESPN Cricinfo quotes Starc as saying: “It’s interesting. I along with David Saker, the bowling coach, we’ve looked at a lot of footage and my action hasn’t changed at all.
“So it’s probably an indication of the cricket balls we’re using this summer, but at the same time it’s a completely different ball we’re going over to India with, the SG.
“I think reverse swing is going to play a much bigger part than natural swing over there, as we’ve seen in the last few series that we’ve gone to India.
“So it’s key to try and get that ball swinging as much as we can naturally up front, it doesn’t generally swing for too many overs, then trying to get that ball to go reverse while it’s still relatively hard. They’re things we’re starting to talk about now as a group.”
Starc was comfortably Australia’s best bowler in Sri Lanka last year with his pace through the air allowing him to get among the wickets early on and put pressure on their hosts and he will be vital to Baggy Green success in India.
The left-arm paceman appears to be in good touch, picking up wickets regularly but he sets very high standards for himself and has targeted getting back to his best.
He went on: “It’s been up and down over the last six months.
“Probably still haven’t been where I hope to be in terms of consistency in my bowling as opposed to where it was 12 months ago before I broke down, but looking back to Sri Lanka [where he took 24 wickets in three Tests], that’s a blueprint I’d like to take into India, the way I approached my bowling there and the sorts of plans we talked about in those conditions.
“So it’s something I can call upon over the next couple of months when we look forward to that challenge. But there’s still a lot I can improve on over the last six months. I think the way I’ve been able to manage my body through the training accident a few months ago, it’s been pleasing to get through six Test matches this summer, it’s nice to do that for the first time.”
Australia play four Tests in India in a series that gets underway in February.
Latest
-
News
Former England batter Graham Thorpe ‘seriously ill’ in hospital
The 52-year-old had accepted the job of Afghanistan head coach following his departure from the England set-up after this winter’s Ashes.
-
News
CSA drops charges of gross misconduct and racism against head coach Mark Boucher
Boucher said the allegations “were unjustified and have caused me considerable hurt and anguish”.
-
News
Luke Wright to take up short-term role on New Zealand coaching staff
Wright was part of Paul Collingwood’s T20 World Cup-winning side in 2010 and played 101 white-ball internationals for his country.
-
News
Holland head coach Ryan Campbell discharged from hospital after cardiac arrest
The Dutch Cricket Federation (KNCB) say tests have ruled out a heart attack as the cause of the cardiac arrest.
-
News
Essex draw with Yorkshire as Sir Alastair Cook scores century in both innings
England’s leading Test run-scorer finished unbeaten on 102 at Chelmsford.
-
News
Surrey complete Northamptonshire win by innings and five runs inside three days
New Zealand all-rounder Colin De Grandhomme started the Northamptonshore rot.
-
News
His best position is at four – Ben Stokes moves Joe Root back to preferred spot
The new England Test skipper is already making his mark.
-
News
It was good fun – Ben Stokes enjoys record-breaking return to action with Durham
The newly-appointed England captain struck 17 sixes as he made 161 from 88 balls against Worcestershire.
-
News
Ton-up Ben Stokes has a record-breaking blast for Durham
The England captain made 161 from 88 deliveries in the LV= Insurance County Championship match against Worcestershire.
-
News
Ton-up Ben Stokes has a blast for Durham
The England Test captain reached a century against Worcestershire with five successive sixes.