Sydney, November 11: Australian speedster Mitchell Starc has called on ground curators to prepare lively and pace-friendly wickets for the upcoming Ashes series against England, saying that surfaces should challenge both sides rather than cater to five-day revenue concerns.
The first of the five Ashes Tests begins on November 21 at Perth Stadium, followed by matches in Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane.
Speaking at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Starc made his stance clear:
“I hope the groundsmen stick to their guns and prepare the wickets they want. If we are worried about five days of revenue, then there’s a bigger problem at hand.”
The 35-year-old left-arm pacer believes that fast and bouncy pitches will help Australia counter England’s aggressive ‘Bazball’ approach, which revolutionized Test cricket under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum.
Starc Working to Regain Bowling Rhythm
Starc admitted he is still rediscovering his rhythm after a long break from red-ball cricket.
“It’s been a while since I played first-class cricket—probably too long if I had my time again,” Starc said. “I’m working on a few things, getting that rhythm back.”
The pacer conceded that he was not at his best during the ODI series against India, but feels close to full form again.
“It just felt like something wasn’t quite clicking there, and it felt pretty close today, so I’m reasonably happy,” he noted. “I think the break was a good thing, but I tend to be someone who keeps rhythm through continuous bowling.”
Starc recently proved his progress in the Sheffield Shield, taking 4 for 91 in 18 overs against Victoria — a timely boost before the high-stakes Ashes series.
