Australia vs India 2020-21: Mitchell Starc's Left-Arm Angle Gives Australia Slight Advantage- Irfan Pathan

Former India pacer, Irfan Pathan has opined that the hosts, Australia will have a small advantage over the Indian team because of the presence of left-arm fast bowler, Mitchell Starc. Pathan feels that bowling in home conditions makes Starc even more threatening.

Australia will host India for six limited-overs games and four Test matches. The 3-match ODI series commences on 27th November followed by 3 T20Is. The high-intensity Border-Gavaskar series will begin on 17th December with a day-night Test in Adelaide followed by the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, New Year’s Test in Sydney, and the last Test match in Australia’s fortress, Brisbane.

India defeated Australia when they toured a couple of years ago. The bowling attack comprising of pacers Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Ishant Sharma was instrumental in the success of the team along with support from the batters. The trio took 48 wickets at an average of 21.6 in that series bowling out Australia 7 times out of possible 8 opportunities.

A left-arm pace bowler provides variety: Irfan Pathan

Irfan Pathan believes that the two teams are evenly matched in the quality of pace; against India’s trio, Australia has a first-choice pace attack consisting of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood. However, Pathan feels that the hosts will have a slight advantage against the visitors.

The former India all-rounder reckons Mitchell Starc’s left-arm angle puts Australia at a slight advantage over the visitors. He says that Starc in the Australian conditions could be devastating.

Irfan Pathan told the news agency, IANS, “There is no doubt that the two teams are evenly matched when it comes to quality of pace bowling. India have a top-quality, world-class bowling line-up. But I think Australia will have a slight advantage as they are playing at home and they have a left-arm bowler in Mitchell Starc.”

The cricketer-turned-commentator understands that the left-arm seamer brings variety to the bowling attack while India’s front three pacers are all right-handed. Pathan, who has toured Australia twice in his career, believes that the lack of a left-arm pacer means the Aussies have a slender hand over Virat Kohli’s bowling attack.

“A left-arm pace bowler provides variety, also the angle across the right-handed batsman. Though I think the advantage could only be slight, there will be an advantage for sure,” Irfan Pathan added.

It’s not like India hasn’t groomed left-arm seamer. Bowlers like Jaydev Undakat, Khaleel Ahmed, and Barinder Sran have done well in the domestic circuit, but couldn’t replicate it at the higher level whenever presented with an opportunity. Mitchell Starc in his last four Test series’ – before the halt in cricket – has snared 45 wickets in eight Tests at an average of 18.42.

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