Former India left-arm seamer Irfan Pathan believes his countrymen collectively boast of a quality bowling attack to match the Australians during the forthcoming Test series down under. But what gives the home team "slight advantage" over their Indian counterparts is the presence of a left-arm seamer in the first-choice line-up. 

This is where Irfan thinks Mitchell Starc might just prove to be the difference between the two teams in their quest for the prestigious Border-Gavaskar Trophy. 

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"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," Irfan told IANS. 

"A left-arm pace bowler provides variety, also the angle across the right-handed batsman. Though I think the advantage could only be slight, but there will be advantage for sure," he added. 

The Indian team created history when they last toured down under by winning the Test series 2-1, country's first in Australia since the maiden trip post Independence in 1947-48, with the likes of Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Shami outperforming the Australian pace battery. 

Their task, however, will be made tougher by the return of Australia's two best batsmen, Steve Smith and David Warner, who weren't there the last time due to bans imposed on them for their involvement in the controversial ball-tampering saga. 

The Test series kickstarts on December 17.