Shane Warne on the key selection and strategic decisions Australia must make to beat India
Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood are Australia’s best seamers, but Shane Warne says Mitch Starc is the key to pink ball success.
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It was great to see Mitchell Starc playing Sheffield Shield cricket and finding his rhythm before the Test series.
Remember, he decided not to play some red-ball matches two years ago, and he was horrible in the first Test against India in Adelaide. He sprayed the ball everywhere and leaked plenty of extras.
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But this year he has already bowled 75.5 overs for NSW, taking nine wickets.
Leading up to a huge summer, it is not about the results you have, it is about getting overs under your belt and finding your rhythm, which leads to confidence.
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If you take wickets you feel rewarded, but I don’t mind if the reward isn’t there — it keeps the fast bowlers hungry.
Even though the Aussie bowlers pick themselves, I still think it’s important we get them in tip-top shape and raring to go.
Starc’s not one of those bowlers where you’re looking for consistency from him.
You’re looking for one spell somewhere where he takes three or four wickets and turns the match with hostile and aggressive bowling.
Starc should get the new pink ball when the series begins at Adelaide Oval, because a day-night Test requires a different approach and tactics.
But after that match I see Starc’s role as the enforcer and coming on as first change.
I can’t remember the last time a red Kookaburra ball swung and Starc should only get the new ball when it is swinging — which the pink ball does.
When was the last time you saw a hooping spell from an opening bowler that was swinging it in Australia?
So against India I would have my best two bowlers with the new ball, and that’s Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.
I’m all about setting the tone, and you know with a Kookaburra ball you have to strike in the first 35 to 40 overs.
Cummins and Hazlewood are just world class. They are probably the best new-ball bowlers in the world.
England pair Jofra Archer and James Anderson might challenge them, but as far as consistency and relentless pressure goes, you can’t go past Cummins and Hazlewood.
Starc adds fantastic variety and balance to the attack, and you’ve then got James Pattinson in the wings, plus Sean Abbott. I wouldn’t be surprised if Abbott plays through the summer.
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The form of Mitchell Swepson has brought a huge smile to my face. I’m really excited and proud of him, and it’s awesome to see the hard work paying off. I was grateful for the opportunity to work with him and have kept a close eye on his progress.
He’s just a good kid and it’s good to see a leg spinner having an influence in Shield cricket, and getting big wickets. He has taking three five-fers this season, and some of the wickets I’ve seen were absolute pearlers.
It’s important to have him because we’ve all been saying, ‘Jeez, if something happens to Nathan Lyon, who is our next spinner?’
The one time where I think Australia might consider two spinners is my beloved MCG. It is unlikely, but possible.
I don’t think the current Indian team plays spin that well, and in recent times Lyon and Moeen Ali have caused them a lot of pain.
If the Boxing Day wicket is anything like the past few years — flat, docile and doesn’t do anything — that might be an opportunity to play two spinners. A batsman might miss out, captain Tim Paine might bat No.6 and you move everyone up one.
But if there’s anything in the pitch at all you would back your fast bowlers and Lyon to do the job.
In Adelaide the spinners will have to do a really big job in the middle session to keep the quicks fresh for under lights.
We know how important it is to make runs in that middle session. Otherwise the scoreboard goes nowhere. Remember, 250-300 is a good score there in a day-nighter.
You want to score pretty fast during the day while keeping wickets in hand because it’s hard work under lights.
The captaincy and tactics from Paine and Virat Kohli are going to be really important and something to keep a close eye on.
Virat has improved big time and Paine is evolving as a tactician.
As for young Victorian Will Pucovski, I’d leave him out for a while. I know he’s made back-to-back 200s — but make another one, and then another one, and then another hundred. Just keep going and own domestic cricket.
When you look at David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, it’s a pretty amazing top order.
It is time a few others stepped up like Marnus has.
Originally published as Shane Warne on the key selection and strategic decisions Australia must make to beat India
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