Starc urges for lively, challenging pitches in Ashes series

The first of the five Ashes Test matches begins at Perth Stadium on November 21, followed by matches in Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

Speaking at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Starc clarified his stance:

“I hope the groundsmen stick to their guns and prepare the wickets they want. If we are worried about five days of revenue, then there’s a bigger problem at hand.”

The 35-year-old left-arm pacer believes fast and bouncy pitches will help Australia counter England's aggressive "buzzball" approach, which revolutionized Test cricket under the leadership of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum.

Starc trying to regain his bowling rhythm

Starc admitted that he is still trying to regain his rhythm after a long break from red-ball cricket.

“It’s been a while since I played first-class cricket—probably too long if I had my time again,” Starc said. “I’m working on a few things, getting that rhythm back.”

The fast bowler admitted that he was not in his best form during the ODI series against India, but now he is in full form.

“It just felt like something wasn’t quite clicking there, and it felt pretty close today, so I’m reasonably happy,” he noted. “I think the break was a good thing, but I tend to be someone who keeps rhythm through continuous bowling.”

Starc recently proved his mettle in the Sheffield Shield, taking 4 for 91 in 18 overs against Victoria - a timely boost ahead of the high-stakes Ashes series.