Australia vs India: Glenn McGrath and Johnson disappointed with Mitchell Starc's performance

Former Australia pacers Glenn McGrath and Mitchell Johnson vented out their frustration over the team’s current bowling spearhead Mitchell Starc’s performance on Sunday — Day 4 of the first Test against India at the Adelaide Oval. They were unhappy with Starc’s body language and fitness as well besides his form as the visitors went ahead to add to their slender margin over Australia in the first innings.

Australia were seven wickets down for 200-odd while chasing a target of 323 in the Test and they yet had a lot of time to spend in the 22 yards to evade the disgrace. If India win the match, it will be the first time in history that they will take a lead in the very first Test of a series in Australia. They had taken a lead in the 2003-04 series as well but it came in the second Test (at the same venue) after the first match was drawn.

Starc though ended up with three wickets in India’s second innings to put on the lid to their innings abruptly (India lost their last four wickets for four runs) but his earlier spells didn’t impress the former greats. Starc had once the bowling figure of one wicket for 18 runs from 10 overs but his inability to take wickets earlier in the innings left his predecessors dejected.

Starc lacked rhythm

According to McGrath, Australia’s highest wicket-taking fast bowler, Mitchell Starc lacked rhythm because of an unstable run-up. “At the moment he just doesn’t seem to have that rhythm. If you’ve got a good rhythm in your run-up, good intent running in and building up pace … a strong front arm and getting through the crease (you’re likely to be bowling well),” the former bowler said on Australian channel Seven.

“I just think it’s got to do with his run-up firstly, and then when he gets to the crease he doesn’t have his normal rhythm. He’s probably leaning back a little and overstriding, and then you don’t get through the crease as well.”

Johnson also felt the 28-year-old bowler failed to dominate the Indian batsmen. “I just don’t like his body language,” the former left-arm seamer said on ABC Grandstand. “He hasn’t given a bit of a glare or puffed his chest out with a good follow through, let the batsman know he’s in the contest, that he’s going to rip the pegs out,” Johnson added.

The off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who took six wickets in the second innings, was Australia’s most successful bowler in the game with eight scalps while Starc ended with five.

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