Australia vs India: One-Test old Marcus Harris backs under-pressure Mitchell Starc

He might be the youngest member of the team but Australian opener Marcus Harris is wise enough to understand how to cheer up a teammate when he is under immense pressure to perform. The Victoria player who recently made his debut against India in Adelaide in the first Test of the four-match series has backed home team’s bowling spearhead Mitchell Starc to deliver in the second Test in Perth where the hosts will be looking to square the series they are trailing 0-1.

Starc, who will turn 29 in January, has come under criticism from a number of former players over his performance in the Adelaide Test. Though the left-arm seamer took five wickets in the match, he was accused of failing to pick India’s wickets at crucial times in the second innings and the visitors piled on runs to their slender lead in the first innings to eventually secure a 31-run victory.

Starc, however, won praises for his stubborn batting which prolonged the Australian resistance against a fine bowling performance by the Indians. Former greats like Glenn McGrath and Mark Waugh were disappointed with Starc’s show with the ball with the former batsman even predicting the bowler losing his place in the playing XI if he fails to fire in Perth.

The Aussies are back at the WACA Ground and start with a very competitive game of Tedball #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/MWcFhZQINh

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 12, 2018

On Wednesday, Starc was seen practicing hard at the WACA ahead of the second Test, which will be the first ever to be played at the newly built Perth Stadium which has replaced the WACA as an international cricket venue this year.

Starc not short of pace, feels Harris

Harris, who scored 26 in both innings of his first Test, said Starc was not short of pace. When asked about how the bowler, who is just nine short of 200 scalps in Tests now, did in the practice session in a pre-match press conference, Harris said, “Quick, he bowled pretty well. There was obviously a bit of talk about him after the game but I thought he bowled pretty well and he felt like he was in good rhythm out there before, so I’m sure he’s ready and raring to go for Friday.”

Harris also said that Australia could take a “little bit of momentum” from India.

The second Test begins on Friday.

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