Cannot see pace and bounce in Bengaluru wicket: Mitchell Starc

Mitchell Starc and his role in the first Test in Pune was largely subdued given the fact that it was a wicket that did indeed turn quite massively. However, the 27-year old, who is perhaps the most fiery of fast bowlers in the country at the moment has also gone ahead and stated that the Bangalore wicket is not expected to provide anything in terms of swing or even bounce. He also stated that he did not expected to turn as much as it did in Pune, but the wicket would be similar to the one England played on a few weeks prior.

Starc was a part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore outfit and was a massive influence on them before eventually opting out of his contract with the franchise. However, he was subsequently replaced by Tymal Mills from England. “I can’t see it being too bouncy or quick because it’s a weakness of the Indian batters,” Starc said.

“We’ll probably see it not turning as much as this wicket has or breaking up as quickly. I think we’ll probably see a wicket similar to maybe the England series they had over here where it’s probably flatter and there’s some really big first innings totals and the game happens a bit quicker towards the end. It’s a smaller ground but a bit better of a wicket than what we’ve seen here in Pune.”

“It’s probably something not many batsmen like, especially the guys over in the sub-continent, where they’re not used to those faster or bouncier wickets,” Starc pointed out.

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Starc went on to add that one would have to wait until the second or third day to ensure that the conditions were indeed something that would provide reverse swing and spin given the manner in which the wicket gets drier in the Indian subcontinent.

“Obviously we’ll wait until we get there to see what the conditions are like but I’m sure it will be a pretty dry wicket again, so that’ll probably help reverse swing there and it’s something we’ll be working hard at all the time in the nets,” he said. “We know we’ve got huge reverse swing every time we’ve got it here in India, so we’ll have a look at what the wicket has got for us. It’s about looking after that shine on an abrasive square.

“And if it’s not going to spin as much in Bangalore, we’re going to have to make sure we’re using that reverse swing to make up for not as much spin as we’ve seen here in Pune.”