Starc to face SG test

Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc believes that adjusting to the ball used in India could be a big part of the challenge of taking on the number one Test team on their soil.
Starc admitted the quicks will need to go through a period of assessment with the Sanspareils Greenlands (SG) made ball.
The SG like the Duke ball used in England is handmade unlike the red Kookaburra ball used by most Test playing nations, spinners and seamers alike grip the seam well and the ball tends to reverse swing more.
The left-armer said after a practice match at the ICC Global Cricket Academy in Dubai: “It’s been a while since I’ve been over there to play red-ball cricket, it’s been four years.
“It’s a different ball so there are different challenges there to try and get it reversing and to see if it swings when it’s brand new.
“Some little changes in terms of batting plans but a lot of similarities in the fact it’s going to turn a lot against us.”
Starc took just two wickets on his last trip to India but was Australia’s leading wicket-taker on their recent tour of Sri Lanka where he took 24 wickets in three Tests.
When asked if India was similar to Sri Lanka at all Starc replied: “Yeah, a lot of similarities to India.”
One of the chief criticisms of former England Test skipper Alastair Cook’s leadership in their 4-0 loss in India was his lack of nouse with his bowlers something Australia cannot afford to do.
Starc indicated that it was up to skipper Steve Smith to decide how best to use him in India although he did say that he expects to be used in short sharp spells.
He added: “It’s obviously up to Smithy.
“It’s probably a bit different to how we’re used back home.
“It will depend on how the ball is reacting, whether it’s swinging conventionally or reverse.
“I’m sure there’ll be times when we’ll be called upon to bowl a few extra overs in a spell but probably a lot of short spells as well.”
Latest
-
News
James Anderson removes Joe Root for just four but Yorkshire thwart Lancashire
Harry Brook came to Yorkshire’s rescue to secure a Roses draw.
-
News
Andrew Symonds – the Queensland larrikin known as Roy with explosive batting
The former Australia all-rounder was killed in a car crash at the age of 46.
-
News
Tributes to an ‘extraordinary player and even better human being’ Andrew Symonds
Symonds died aged 46
-
News
Former Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds dies in Queensland car crash
The 46-year-old played over 200 times for Australia across all formats.
-
News
Cricket world reacts to tragic death of ex-Australia player Andrew Symonds
The ‘cult figure’ of the sport was killed in a car-crash on Saturday night.
-
News
Former Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds dies in car crash aged 46
Symonds played 26 Tests and 212 limited-overs internationals for his country.
-
News
Joe Root century checks Lancashire’s victory bid in Roses clash
Jack Leach took an eight-wicket match haul as Somerset claimed victory over neighbours Gloucestershire.
-
News
Surrey rewrite record books while Lancashire and Northamptonshire take control
Surrey equalled the first-class record for the number of players making half-centuries without passing three figures.
-
News
Brendon McCullum took England job for challenge of improving ‘rock bottom’ team
The ex-New Zealand skipper should, pending visa approvals, arrive in the UK in time to lead a three-Test series against his home country next month.
-
News
Keaton Jennings shines as Lancashire dominate Roses rivals Yorkshire
Jennings, Ben Stokes and Haseeb Hameed were all in excellent form with the bat in their respective matches.