Last Updated on 6 months ago by Charbel Coorey
Mitchell Starc has issued a warning to England’s fast bowlers ahead of the upcoming Ashes series. The visitors arrive to Australia with a group of pace bowlers who can notch speeds upwards of 145km/h – a trait they have often lacked in Ashes series gone by. However, Starc said that Australian pitches will take getting used to.
“It goes unspoken a bit or it’s underrated how the firmness of wickets here are completely different to England,” Starc told AAP earlier this year, as quoted by cricket.com.au. “Physically, bowling in England is a lot easier.”
Brett Lee says England must go all out despite Mitchell Starc warning
Jofra Archer and Mark Wood are crucial to England’s hopes. However, both have endured wretched runs with injury over the years.
Archer debuted in the 2019 Ashes, making an immediate impression. But, he has played just 11 Tests since. It has been a similar story for Wood, who has just 35 Tests under his belt since debuting in 2015.
“You have the Dukes ball that moves around for 80 overs and does more off the seam. The wickets are softer under foot,” Starc said.
“You come to Australia and at times it’s like bowling on (concrete). It’s rock hard, your body feels it a lot more. It takes a little bit to get used to, it takes a bit of hardening to get through five Tests here.
“They [England] are going to have the depth to bowl really fast. Have they got the depth on firmer surfaces with a Kookaburra ball that doesn’t do the same for as long as a Dukes ball. That’s conditions-based as well.”
Despite those injury concerns, former Australia fast bowler Brett Lee says England must play both Archer and Wood. He says their pace and contrasting styles can work wonders.
“If England are going to win this series, they have to play Mark Wood and Jofra Archer. It’s as simple as that,” Lee said, as quoted by ABC News.
“You need them to rip in and try to disturb the Australian top order. Because there is a lot of conjecture over who they pick at the top of the order.
“They’re different styles of bowlers. Mark Wood is all out. He has a massive heart, puts his team first, got a beautiful action. It’s like poetry watching him run in.
“Then you have Jofra Archer who is more of a shoulder-power bowler and gets that really good bump off the crease and trajectory off the wicket.”
Kerry O’Keeffe has similar view to Brett Lee
It is a view shared by Kerry O’Keeffe. In an exclusive interview for CricBlog last month, O’Keeffe said England will frontload Wood and Archer in an attempt to start the series well.
“I’m sure if Wood’s fit he’ll play Perth, Archer will play Perth and probably Gus Atkinson plays Perth,” O’Keeffe said.
“And then see what the result is there. Go to the day-nighter in Brisbane. If they’ve all pulled up well, they all go again. And then if England do lead, if it’s 1-all or England lead 2-0, then they can strategise. If Australia lead 2-0, then there’s panic stations.”
The first Test begins on November 21 at Perth’s Optus Stadium. England, who haven’t won a Test in Australia since 2011, are aiming to make a strong start in their quest to regain the coveted urn.
