AUS v IND 2018-19: Mitchell Johnson offers to share bowling tips with Mitchell Starc

Starc failed to impress Johnson with the ball.

Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc | GETTY

Former Australian pacer Mitchell Johnson was unimpressed with speedster Mitchell Starc in the first Test. He didn't like the body language of the current Australian bowling spearhead. Johnson openly criticized Starc after his unimpressive show with the ball.

Before next game at Perth, a pace bowlers paradise, Johnson has offered to help Starc do better in the remaining games. The former Aussie believes it's the about wrong mindset with Starc which isn't helping him.

“Everyone operates in a different way and I’ve already sent him a couple of text messages to see if he wants to catch up and have a chat about things because I have worked with him in the past and you get to know people really well,” Johnson said on BBC’s Stumps podcast. “It just looked like there was something on his mind, something’s not quite clicking. We’ll sit down hopefully before the Perth Test match starts.”

India is 1-0 up in the series and the hosts might be under pressure. To come back strong they will need their star bowler to counter with the ball. Johnson has high hopes from WACA deck to lift up the out-of-touch Starc. “It’s probably going to be a pretty quick and bouncy wicket as well. That could really get (Starc) alive and going. All I would say to him is he’s just got to have that belief in himself and get involved in the game and I guess to have that presence,” said Johnson.

The former Aussie is aware of Starc's ability. Johnson said the 28-year-old is way better than what he showed in Adelaide Test. “I know what he’s capable of. He’s just not swinging the ball at the moment. I feel like he might be slightly underdone. He has been out with injuries and he’s sort of come back. I don’t feel like he’s got that rhythm at the moment.

“The Mitchell Starc I know, he runs in, he’s got that really good rhythm in his run-up, he’s running in fast, he’s got that presence about him, he has a good follow through where he’s in the batsman’s face, he’s involved in the game. We’re just not seeing that.”

(WITH BBC INPUTS) 

 
 

By Sihyeu Singh - 12 Dec, 2018

    Share Via