Mitchell Starc starts mind games, says he will target the inexperienced England batters

Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc has already started playing mind games before the start of the Ashes. He recently said that he will be targeting the inexperienced batsmen in the English line-up. The England team is enjoying a great time in the whites. They beat South Africa 3-1. dominating Faf du Plessis’ men all over and have recently crushed out West Indies in the 1st day/night Test match.

Australia, on the other hand, are currently in Bangladesh and they will take part in a 2-Test match series against the hosts, starting this Sunday. The Ashes is one of the most fiercely contested series’ in the history of cricket and the Aussies are leaving no stones unturned to regain the urn back. Starc and company are well aware of the fact that Joe Root’s men are struggling with the opening slot. They won’t be underestimating the likes of Alastair Cook and Root, who have always piled up big scores when mattered the most for England.

Australia aware of England‘s top order dilemma

“They’re certainly not as settled in the batting stakes as they were a little while ago,” Starc told The Unplayable Podcast. “Root and Cook are their two guys that are quite experienced and their two key batters. They’re trying a few guys there at the top with the last couple of series so you don’t really quite know who they’re going to bring to Australia yet. It will be interesting, it’s a nice one to watch for the bowlers,” he added.

“We’re a more settled side than they are at the moment. Their batting line-up is one we can look at try to exploit in our conditions,” the pacer said. While Starc is unsurprisingly liking the look of England’s fledgeling batting unit, he’s much more fearful of the tourists’ prolific bowling attack.

England will rely on their bowlers

“(England) will rely a lot on their bowlers who come to Australia and have played a lot in Australia before,” he said. “That’s the most dangerous part about their team with guys who have taken a lot of wickets, home and away as well. I have another scan tomorrow actually, Thursday, to see where it’s at,” Starc said.  “Hopefully the bone

“Hopefully the bone edema, or hot spots as they are commonly known, are all gone in the foot and I can start bowling on Monday, if that’s the case. I’ve been rushed back the last few times I’ve been injured for tournaments, like the Champions Trophy and my foot wasn’t right for that.”

The big series is the Ashes this summer so I don’t want to go into that carrying anything small or coming back too early for an Indian tour. We figured the timeline suits coming back for the domestic one-day tournament. Having some good cricket there, playing some (JLT Sheffield) Shield games and then ready to go and available for selection for the Ashes,” Starc concluded.