Eleven days out from the Ashes series opener, Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc confessed he has been ironing out some technical issues with his bowling following a four-month layoff from red-ball cricket.
The tall left-armer returned to Sheffield Shield action on Monday, taking 4-91 from 18 overs on day one against Victoria at the SCG while bowling alongside Test teammates Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon.
Starc has only played three ODIs since July’s Frank Worrell Trophy finale against the West Indies in Kingston, when he claimed career-best figures of 6-9.
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Speaking to reporters at the SCG on Monday, the 35-year-old admitted “something wasn’t quite clicking” with his bowling during the recent white-ball series against India, but felt he was “pretty close” to rediscovering his rhythm on Monday.
“It has been a while (since I played first-class cricket), probably too long if I had my time again,” Starc said.
“But that’s fine, it was alright, working on a few things, getting that rhythm back.
“That was probably my longest layoff injury-free for a long time. I was just trying to find that rhythm through the ODIs (against India). It just felt like something wasn’t quite clicking there and it felt pretty close today, so I’m reasonably happy.”
Starc, who recently retired from T20Is, clarified that he wasn’t suggesting he should have played an additional Sheffield Shield match ahead of the Ashes, which gets underway on November 21.
“The break was a good thing,” Starc continued.
“I’m just someone that continuous bowling keeps me in rhythm, so it was a quick return to play.
“I wasn’t going into the ODI series thinking I was cherry ripe … and this weekend was another extension of that.”
Asked if he was willing to share what the problem with his bowling was, he replied: “Nope.”
Starc also revealed that he had spoken to Australian coach Andrew McDonald on Monday afternoon to talk through his bowling, adding he believed he had “sorted out” the issue.
“I couldn’t quite put my finger on it,” he explained.
“It’s just getting the engine going again, I guess.”
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While trying to decipher the problem with his bowling during the ODI series against India, Starc consulted footage of his record-breaking spell against the West Indies at Sabina Park, when he claimed the fastest five-wicket haul in Test history.
“I asked for a side-by-side of the spell in Jamaica and the (ODI) spell in Adelaide, just to try and work out what was different,” he recalled.
“I couldn’t really pick up too much in the action. I felt like I was pretty close, and again today I feel like I’m even closer.
“It’s just getting the miles on the legs and having the engine turned over spell after spell.”
Victoria was 7-340 at stumps on day one, with veteran batter Peter Handscomb notching a stylish 104, his 30th first-class century.
The Sheffield Shield match between New South Wales and Victoria resumes on Tuesday at 10.30am AEDT.
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