Mitchell Starc was not at his best in Adelaide Test, says Mitchell Johnson

Mitchell Starc was not at his best in Adelaide Test, says Mitchell Johnson

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Mitchell Johnson has stated that during the first Test match against India, Mitchell Starc looked like he had something on his mind and something was not clicking for him. The former tearaway quick has also added that he is ready to help out his former mate in order to gain his mojo back.

Starc picked five wickets for Australia in the first Test of the ongoing four-match Test series between India and Australia. At the Adelaide Oval, though Starc had the wickets to show against his name, his bowling seemed wayward and he also conceded many extra runs through byes. Now, the former Australian pacer Mitchell Johnson has come to his aid and has taken initiative to help Starc.

“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,” Johnson was quoted as saying on BBC’s Stumps podcast.

“It just looked like there was something on his mind, something’s not quite clicking. We’ll sit down hopefully before the Perth Test match starts,” Johnson said.

The second Test match of the series is scheduled to start from December 14th at the newly built Perth Stadium. Johnson said that the pitch there is expected to aid pace and bounce that could come to Starc's aid who he thinks needs such a boost.

“It’s probably going to be a pretty quick and bouncy wicket as well. That could really get (Starc) alive and going. All I would say to him is he’s just got to have that belief in himself and get involved in the game and I guess have that presence,” said Johnson. I know what he’s capable of – we all know what he’s capable of,” Johnson added.

Johnson also added that Starc might not have recovered from the injury he is returning from and that might be the reason for his wayward line and length. He also went on to explain how an in-form Mitchell Starc seems like.

“He’s just not swinging the ball at the moment. I feel like he might be slightly underdone. 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,” Johnson observed.

“The Mitchell Starc I know, he runs in, he’s got that real good rhythm in his run up, he’s running in fast, he’s got that presence about him, he has a good follow through where he’s in the batsman’s face, he’s involved in the game.

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