Mitchell Starc can destroy India on the sub-continent with his bouncer, says Wasim Akram

SWING bowling legend Wasim Akram believes Mitchell Starc’s bouncer could devastate India next month but has called on his protégé to refashion his action.

Mitchell Starc arrives at Sydney for the third Test against Pakistan. Picture: Mark Evans

SWING bowling legend Wasim Akram believes Mitchell Starc’s bouncer could devastate India next month but has called on his protégé to first work hard at becoming an invisible mystery.

Starc is hard to miss when he charges into bowl, but Akram says the key to Australia’s hopes in India will depend on their spearhead’s ability to refashion his action and hide the ball completely from sight until the moment of delivery.

If he can execute with his reverse swing and keep batsmen guessing until the last available moment, Akram believes Starc can dominate the likes of Indian master Virat Kohli in his own backyard.

While batsmen might be able to duck under Starc’s lethal bouncers in Australian conditions, in the sub-continent, Akram believes batsmen will be trapped on the crease and forced to fend away.

Mitchell Starc sends down a bouncer to Pakistan’s Azhar Ali during the Boxing Dat Test. Picture: AP

Akram famously disguised the shiny side of the ball during his illustrious career and the Godfather of left-arm fast bowling – who has worked extensively with Starc in the past and is happy for another chat in the future – says the art of reverse swing is all in the art of deception.

“Mitchell Starc is the top bowler in world cricket right now. He’s tall, he’s got pace, swing, bounce and the best Yorker in the business,” Akram said.

“Past greats like Dennis Lillee didn’t do well on sub-continent tracks … but Glenn McGrath did and I think Mitchell Starc can. He got wickets in Sri Lanka, that’s the big plus.

“With reverse swing these days, the batsmen sees which side the shine is going so he has to learn with the old ball to hide the shine. Myself and Waqar Younis with our reverse swing actions, we would hide the all until the last second and I think that’s what he can practice.”

Akram believes Cricket Australia should ship in batches of Indian SG cricket balls for their most important asset to use over the next month.

Cricket Australia say they have the balls available, but Starc’s ability to train with them before the team gets to Dubai for training camp will depend on his bowling loads.

On slow wickets, Akram is confident Starc’s famous bouncer will be at its most dangerous.

“The bouncer there is more difficult (to play) because batsmen at the WACA or Gabba can easily see length and duck down,” he said.

“But on those wickets you’ve got to play the bouncer every time.

“You have one short leg, one square leg, one in front of the umpire and that’s where he can attack.”