Mitchell Starc feels winning the battle against Cook and Root will definitely be an advantage in the series

The first Test match of the Ashes series is surely in the hands of the hosts after the end of the fourth day’s play. Only a miracle can save the visitors from a crumbling defeat down under. It is a complete team effort but largely the credit goes to the Aussie bowlers and their skipper Steve Smith for his unbeaten knock in the first innings. While the hosts’ key fast bowler Mitchell Starc feels winning the big battle against English batsman Alastair Cook and captain Joe Root would definitely be an advantage in the long series.

Australia ended the fourth day’s play in a solid position on the back of an unbeaten 107-run opening partnership between the openers David Warner and Cameron Bancroft. The hosts are just 56 runs behind to take a lead of 1-0 in the Ashes 2017-18. While fast bowler Starc feels the advantage is with the host after restricting the experienced English batting duo, Cook and Root to low scores.

These are surely encouraging signs for us

The veteran England opener was dismissed cheaply in both the innings of the first Test match at Gabba. While Root scored a fifty in the second innings but he was dismissed soon after getting to the half-century. Therefore, Starc feels these are encouraging signs for the rest of the series. He mentioned that these are the two most experienced English batters and it was important to keep them silent for the matter of runs.

“It’s still a long way to go in the series, but encouraging signs for us. We knew the two guys in their line-up we’d have to keep quiet throughout the series, being so experienced and important in their line-up,” said Starc at the end of the fourth day’s play.

The 27-year old fast bowler also reckoned that the conditions will change as the series progresses. All the venues and pitches will have different conditions. He also admitted that this is a great start going into the rest of the series.

“Conditions will change as we go to different places in Australia, but it’s a great start with the first Test,” Starc added.