Citing the need to keep bowlers fresh in a busy series, former Australia pacer Jason Gillespie has called for left-arm seamer Mitchell Starc to be brought back into the playing XI for the second Ashes Test against England starting June 28 at Lord’s. advocated. ,
Starc was in the playing XI for Australia in the World Test Championship final win over India at The Oval earlier this month. But the fast bowler was dropped in favor of Scott Boland for the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston, which Australia won by two wickets in thrilling fashion. (Ashes 2023: Matthew Hayden labels Ollie Robinson a ‘forgettable cricketer’)
“Traditionally, you wouldn’t think of changing a winning team, but because this is the shortest Ashes series in history with five Tests in less than seven weeks, it’s important to keep your bowlers as fresh as possible.
Yes, Starc can go for a few runs, but if Australia have to field like they used on the opening day of this series, with three men on the fence, then Starc will be safe and because he is really a Is an aggressive bowler – Gillespie wrote in his column for the Daily Mail on Sunday, “He pitches the ball higher than his Test rivals, so that he can swing and bring the yorker into play – an advantage for his team could.”
Gillespie feels Boland could be the player who will make room for Starc in the playing XI, pointing out that England went after the right-arm pacer at Edgbaston.
“And England’s approach to Scott Boland at Edgbaston could influence Australia’s thinking on second Test selection. It was a valid strategy that England wanted Scott off his game, bowling disciplined, line and length , involves bashing the same area on the pitch. The whole day in an attempt to hit the top of the off-stump. He was able to hit it very aggressively, scoring more than six runs per over in the first innings and more than five in the second made,” he said.
“I know their philosophy is generally to play this aggressive buzzball-type of cricket, but it seems that whenever Boland came on to bowl England went up another gear and the inclusion of Starc in his place Australia would have had a chance to fight the fire.” He added.
Gillespie believes that Starc and Josh Hazlewood, who are battling with injuries, can prove to be fatal in the game against England at Lord’s.
“England are going to attack no matter what, and when I assess bowlers, the first thing I want to know about them is their strike rate. Starc takes less than 50 wickets to take a wicket. Let’s take the ball; Hazlewood’s mark is over 57.”
“Hazlewood’s economy is much better than Starc’s and hence the effectiveness of both is balanced. Equally, Australia’s captain Pat Cummins is so distinctive because his strike rate is slightly lower than Starc’s and his economy matches Hazlewood’s. Is.” Gillespie concluded.