Australian bowlers pay little attention to Indian batting collapse

Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland have weighed in after India was routed for 46 on the eve of the Border-Gavaskar series.

Mitchell Starc has resisted taking a jab at India after Australia’s summer opponents were rolled for just 46 to begin their home series against New Zealand.

The veteran fast bowler suggested Australia’s bowling unit would read little into the scorecard after losing the 2020-21 home series despite a similar capitulation by India in Adelaide.

“Didn’t watch it – saw the scores. Pretty sure last time they got rolled for 36 in a series, they won the series, so we’ll see how they go,” Starc said.

“There were a whole number of factors in that series. It’s a different time that we live in now. It’s been a while since we’ve won, obviously, against India at home.”

Fringe Test quick Scott Boland said he had watched the highlights of the innings, which lasted only 31.2 overs in seam-friendly conditions in Bengaluru, and thought it could encourage Australia to produce some lively pitches against the touring side.

Indian captain Rohit Sharma (left) departs and Virat Kohli (right) went on to join him in the pavilion shortly after with the home side bowled out for 46 against New Zealand. Picture: Idrees Mohammed / AFP

“I was just watching it before in the (MCG cafe). It looked like they just nicked everything, and (New Zealand) took some awesome catches,” Boland said on Friday.

“It’s a bit different to see India get bowled out like that in India.

“Potentially (bowler-friendly pitches should be considered). I think with the class in our bowling attack, if there’s a little bit in the wicket, they’ll find it and put their batters under the pump.”

Starc said there were too many variables over a five-match series to predict how many Tests Australia’s first-choice bowling attack would play together.

He was not willing to compare the demands of the upcoming schedule to the 2-1 series defeat four years ago when India chased down 328 on the final day at the Gabba as a weary Starc and Josh Hazlewood could only muster one wicket between them in the fourth innings.

Mitchell Starc bowled in the nets at Cricket Central on Friday as he prepares for a Sheffield Shield appearance for NSW against Victoria at the MCG. Picture: Tom Parrish

“The squads are relatively similar. The order of where the games are played is different – thankfully, we’re not playing at the Gabba in January,” Starc said.

“Whether you change your attack or your team as the series goes on, that’s going to be dictated by how the Tests go throughout the summer – how blokes with their bodies are handling it and how results go as well.

“If you’re 2-0 or 3-0 up in a series, that changes things again. There’s too many factors … but there’s certainly times when you feel the grind of five Tests.”

Starc was preparing to travel to Melbourne with Steve Smith and Nathan Lyon to play for NSW against Victoria at the MCG in a clash beginning Sunday.

It could be his only competitive red-ball match before the first Test in Perth next month due to his involvement in the three-match ODI series against Pakistan.

Originally published as Australian bowlers pay little attention to Indian batting collapse