Mitchell Starc 'surprised' by Pakistan's pace arsenal touring Australia

In a surprising turn of events during the first Test, Pakistan's seamers faced criticism for their lack of genuine pace, raising eyebrows not just among their home fans but also drawing attention from the Australian camp.

Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc expressed surprise at the lower pace of Pakistan's bowlers, noting that everyone was expecting speeds in the 150s [kph].

"I think everyone was slightly surprised at the lower pace of the Pakistan bowlers, when you're generally used to some guys getting in the 150s [kph]," Starc said, speaking to media at the MCG.

Starc emphasised the significance of pace in the game, noting, "I don't think that pace is the be all and end all, but it certainly plays a part and can help." The absence of Naseem Shah due to injury and Haris Rauf choosing not to participate in the series limited Pakistan's high-pace options. Shaheen Shah Afridi, the primary pace bowler, also struggled to match his previous speed after recovering from a knee injury.

During the first Test, Afridi's average pace dipped to the low 130 kph, a noticeable drop from his quickest days. The remaining seam options in the Pakistani lineup lacked express pace, unlike their Australian counterparts. This difference was particularly evident on a lively wicket in Perth, where the Australian bowlers consistently hit mid-140s.

Starc acknowledged the role of pace but noted that it might not be as crucial at the MCG. He cited the example of Scott Boland, who, despite not being a top-end pace bowler, generates significant movement on his home ground. Starc highlighted the complementarity within the Australian attack, where bowlers bring different skills to the table.

"Case in point, you look at Scotty Boland who can bowl good wheels, but he's not at your top end of pace bowlers. But he generates a lot of sideways movement here in Melbourne, obviously being his home ground. He's done it for a long time and we saw that obviously against England, where every ball he bowled could have been a wicket," he added.

People used to come to watch Pakistani pace bowlers running in hard and bowling 150 clicks: Waqar Younis

Waqar Younis, Pakistan's former captain, echoed concerns over the team's pace deficiency, emphasising that the excitement associated with Pakistani fast bowlers was missing.

"People used to come to watch Pakistani pace bowlers running in hard and bowling 150 clicks. That's what I'm not seeing, and that's what my worry is," Younis said on ESPN's show Around the Wicket.

As Pakistan face challenges in their bowling lineup, with Shahzad ruled out due to a stress fracture, the team must reassess its pace options for the remaining matches. The series against Australia has brought attention to a potential gap in Pakistan's fast-bowling reserves, leaving fans and experts alike worried about the team's future performances.