India vs Australia: Mitchell Johnson Offers To Help Mitchell Starc Ahead Of Perth Test

Australia pacer Mitchell Starc faced some criticism after his below-par performance in the Adelaide Test against India which the hosts lost by 31 runs. While Australia great Glenn McGrath found technical issues with Starc's run-up, former captain Mark Waugh was of the opinion that the pacer needed to be more consistent with the new ball. In the wake of the criticism, former Australia pacer Mitchell Johnson has offered to help Starc ahead of the India vs Australia 2nd Test, beginning on Friday. In the Adelaide Test, Starc could only pick five wickets.

"Everyone operates in a different way and I've already sent him a couple of text messages to see if he wants to catch up and have a chat about things because I have worked with him in the past and you get to know people really well," cricket.com.au quoted Johnson as saying to BBC's Stumps podcast.

"It just looked like there was something on his mind, something's not quite clicking (in the first Test). We'll sit down hopefully before the Perth Test match starts," Johnson, the fifth-highest wicket-taker for Australia in Tests, said.

Johnson said that Starc is slightly underdone and out of rhythm.

"I know what he's capable of - we all know what he's capable of. He's just not swinging the ball at the moment. I feel like he might be slightly underdone," he said.

"He has been out with injuries and he's sort of come back. I don't feel like he's got that rhythm at the moment," the former Australian pacer said.

The second Test between India and Australia will be held in Perth and Australia captain Tim Paine backed Starc to do well in Perth.

"When Starcy's on song, there is no better bowler in the world, particularly with the new ball. In Perth, the conditions will suit him down to the ground," Paine said.

Topics mentioned in this article

India Cricket Team Australia Cricket Team Mitchell Starc Mitchell Johnson Australia vs India 2018/19 Cricket