Positive signs ahead of next year's India tour: Mitchell Starc

After putting up shambolic displays with the bat in the first two Test matches against Sri Lanka, Australia finally delivered on Sunday (August 14) in the third Test in Colombo (SSC), with skipper Steven Smith and opener Shaun Marsh scoring unbeaten half-centuries to lead a solid reply.


Marsh, who replaced Joe Burns in the playing XI, hit ten fours in his 141-ball 64 and was involved in an unbeaten 120-run stand for the second wicket with Smith to take Australia to 141 for 1 at stumps in reply to Sri Lanka's 355. Mitchell Starc, who took five wickets in Sri Lanka's innings, was happy with the start made by the two batsmen, but conceded that it has come a bit late as the series has already been decided.
 
However, the pacer is confident that these 'positive signs' can help his side fare better next year when Australia tour India for four Tests. "Boys started the innings really well," Starc said. "We're one down, unfortunately, but the way Shaun and Steve played through that last session was great, what we've looked for the whole series. It's just a couple Test matches too late.
 
"We've got four Test matches in India early next year, so we're making good steps forward. It's just happened too late in this series," Starc added.
 
The left-arm seamer also went on to criticise the deep footholes on the crease, which he feels has made it tough for his side's pacers to land on. After the first day's play, offspinner Nathan Lyon made a similar observation.
 
"It's not great," he said. "Nathan mentioned a few things yesterday about how it is after a day-one wicket. The fact that they fill the holes with not much and it was still wet this morning, and has been after each innings that we've bowled through the series, and the fact they've probably bowled 15 overs of pace through the whole series, it is a bit easier for the spinners to land on than it is for our quicks.
 
"I understand the wicket is what it is and both teams play on that, but the actual bowling crease has been pretty disappointing this Test match."
 
Starc is now looking to take time away from the match and focus on the Olympics early in the morning to witness his brother Brandon Starc compete in it. "I'm glad we're batting so I'll be able to get up about 5am and watch the brother over in Rio do his thing in the high jump," he said. "Pretty excited and proud of the younger brother to represent his country at an Olympics.
 
"He sounds pretty excited as you would be in your first Olympic Games. I'm very proud of him, and I'm sure he'll do himself and his country proud tomorrow," Starc said.