![\"Australias](\"https:\/\/www.geo.tv\/assets\/uploads\/updates\/2025-11-11\/633058_7339364_updates.jpg\")
MELBOURNE: Australia paceman Mitchell Starc has urged curators to prepare bowler-friendly pitches for the Ashes, warning against flattening surfaces to maximise five-day revenue as England’s aggressive “Bazball” approach looms.<\/p>\n
Australia defeated India 3-1 in the last home summer on pitches that offered encouragement for batters and bowlers alike, and Starc said he hoped that would continue in the five-test series against England.<\/p>\n
“I hope the groundsmen stick to their guns and prepare the wickets they want,” Starc told Australian media.<\/p>\n
“If we are worried about five days of revenue then there’s bigger problems at hand.”<\/p>\n
Left-armer Starc took a four-wicket haul for New South Wales on a tepid Sydney Cricket Ground pitch on Monday in the Sheffield Shield match against Victoria.<\/p>\n
Though encouraged by his bowling in his first first-class match since July, Starc said the wicket would have played right into the England batters’ hands.<\/p>\n
“Yeah no doubt. Especially if they\u2019re pretty docile wickets like this,” he said.<\/p>\n
“We know the way they’re trying to play their cricket. We\u2019ll worry about that next week.”<\/p>\n
Starc, who recently quit T20I cricket to extend his career in tests, said his bowling rhythm was back after a long layoff from red-ball cricket and he was building nicely for the Ashes series-opener in Perth starting on November 21.<\/p>\n
“I think the break was a good thing, but I just tend to be someone who continuous bowling keeps in rhythm,” said the 35-year-old.<\/p>\n
“I\u2019ve just been speaking to (head coach) Ronnie (Andrew McDonald) then, I think I\u2019ve sorted it out and now it\u2019s just getting the engine going again.”<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n