Mitchell Starc will be key for Australia against India: Glenn McGrath

'Bumrah's an asset... He just needs to put in a little more work'

Former Australia pacer Glenn McGrath. (AP file photo)

 

 

Calcutta: When Glenn McGrath was at his peak, Australia had two of their best Test series in India. While they lost in 2001, they managed to conquer the final frontier during the 2004-05 season.

The Aussies visit India again next March, but it will be difficult to predict their bowling combination, feels McGrath. The former fast bowler, however, believes Mitchell Starc will be the key on the tour.

"Back in 2000-01 and 2004-05, our strategy was to play with three fast bowlers and one spinner in Shane Warne. That was our attack for a while. There was a lot of experience in that side.

"Your experience in the subcontinent will be vital as you know how to handle the conditions. But as far as our bowling combination is concerned, we do have some young spinners coming through. So, it will be interesting to see whether they step up or Australia again will have to bank on the pacers.

"I don't think India will be producing wickets fast and bouncy. Australia, therefore, have to sort out things between now and March. But no matter what, Starc will be the key man," McGrath, here as a brand ambassador for Hardys wine, told The Telegraph on Tuesday.

The former pacer urged Australian spinners to be more proactive and batsmen to improve their game, especially after a below-par showing in Tests versus Sri Lanka.

"All the bowlers have to adjust to conditions in these parts. But it's probably more up to the batsmen as they need to look to score more runs and survive. They didn't do well in Sri Lanka recently.

"And mind you, the spinners also need to contribute and take a few more wickets."

McGrath believes that Australia could make things happen especially when Starc and Josh Hazlewood bowl in tandem. "See, Starc is someone who's aggressive, swings it in at good pace and is very dangerous with the old ball.

"To speak of Josh, he is tall, strong and gets good bounce. He's his own man and goes about things in the right way.

"He bowls in good areas with good bounce and being a right-hander, he can sustain the pressure with Starc at the other end. Starc and he bowling in tandem suits us really well."

Talking of Steve Smith's captaincy, McGrath didn't want to read too much into the skipper leaving for home midway during the Sri Lanka tour. "I have got a lot of respect for Smith. He has real passion for the game.

"He's got the respect of his players and has a good cricketing brain too. In Sri Lanka, I think he did well as captain. Obviously, he would have liked more runs as a batsman.

"But without doubt, he's probably the best player of spin (among the current Aussie batsmen). A lot relies on how he fares, certainly," he said.

Moving on to the Indian pacers, McGrath picked Jasprit Bumrah as the one to watch out for. "I have done a little bit of work with Jasprit at the MRF Pace Foundation. He's come in there a couple of times.

"His bowling action is probably more natural, unique... Sometimes I call him bit of a freak.

"But you don't want to change the action because that's the way he bowls and should keep bowling. He should try to get a little bit more out of it.

"On his day when he is bowling well, he can get through with good pace with his yorkers - both inswinging and reversing yorkers. He's an asset. He just needs to put in a little more work and be prepared to excel."

Analysing both Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli at a press conference later, McGrath said he likes the different level of attitude that Sachin used to bring in. "Kohli's aggressive, he's got an attitude and doesn't back down. But Sachin brought a different level of attitude which I liked very much.

"As a bowler, you need to try and bowl at batsmen's area of discomfort and make it as difficult as possible to score," McGrath said.