Two unfamiliar “dog-throwers”, essentially human bowling machines with whip-like arms, were drafted in from the Sunshine Coast. Their mission? Fling left-arm angle, pace, and movement at England’s batters until the muscle memory kicks in. The Lions squad was busy in Canberra, the Test bowlers were resting, and Stokes was the lone senior quick bowler. So England built a simulation.
Because after Perth, the issue isn’t subtle: Mitchell Starc didn’t just win the first Test; he detonated it. With half the upcoming Test expected to be played after sunset, England suddenly find themselves studying a very specific syllabus.
And no student was as obsessive on Sunday as Joe Root, a man who’s scored 11,500 Test runs yet averages only 17.36 against Starc. If this Ashes is a chess match, England spent Sunday replaying the same pawn move over and over, hoping to finally avoid the early checkmate.
Starc’s Angle Creates Problems That Stats Can’t Hide
For all of Root’s brilliance, fluent footwork, late hands, and unshakable rhythm, Starc disrupts him in a way few bowlers ever have. Ten Test dismissals across 23 matches isn’t a coincidence; it’s a pattern. The left-arm angle drags Root across, the late deviation beats his head and hands, and the extra bounce makes defensive judgment a gamble.
His first-innings Perth dismissal? A ball starting on the hip, darting across him, and flying to third slip. Root described it as “one of those you wear,” but the uncomfortable truth is that Starc forces you to wear a lot of them.
The second innings? A drive he didn’t quite need to play. Not a reckless shot, just a misread line, the type Starc manufactures by threatening both edges since adding the wobble seam.
The Pink Ball Amplifies Starc’s Threat
Day–night Tests tilt the board for bowlers like Starc: pace, swing, and the ability to exploit twilight chaos. While his overall pink-ball numbers are absurd, his Gabba record (14 wickets at 29.00) shows he’s not unplayable here. But even that average is deceptive; most of those spells were momentum-shifting bursts.
With Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood under injury clouds, Starc’s role grows even bigger. Perth proved he doesn’t need the cavalry; he was the cavalry.
England’s Left-Armed Net Session Shows Tactical Maturity
This wasn’t mindless practice. England essentially recreated Starc’s entire threat profile angle across right-handers, full swinging ball, hard length, and late wobble through left-arm throwers and net bowlers. Root hogging the throwdown sessions wasn’t ego; it was recognition.
This England think-tank will never hand out universal solutions. Bazball is built on self-owned game plans. So Root’s experimenting triggers movement? Middle-and-off guard? Shorter backlift? Playing tighter lines? Forms the backbone for everyone else.
Wobble Seam: The Delivery That Changed the Rivalry
Starc’s transformation since adopting the wobble seam deserves more credit. It’s no longer swing away/swing in. It’s swing, seam, and uncertainty layered together. When he can hit both edges at 145 kph, right-handers can’t “play the angle” anymore.
That’s why Root’s plan this week is less about invention and more about clarity: Understand his tools. Counter them over long periods. Be clear on your scoring method. That’s Root’s code for: “This won’t be solved by a magic shot; it’ll be solved by surviving long enough to cash in.”
England’s pink-ball record is shaky, Australia’s is near-invincible, and this Gabba Test sits at the crossroads. Root’s calculations, England’s adapted training, and their willingness to confront the Starc problem head-on give them a chance, a small but genuine one.
The tourists don’t need to dominate Starc. They just need to neutralise him long enough for their batting to express itself again. Because if they can keep the left-arm thunderbolt quiet, suddenly this Ashes looks a lot less predictable.
Key Takeaway
England doesn’t have a Starc solution yet, but for the first time this series, they’re finally asking the right questions.
FAQs
1. What makes Mitchell Starc so dangerous with the pink ball?
His pace, left-arm angle, swing, and wobble seam combine perfectly under lights.
2. Why does Joe Root struggle against Starc?
The angle across him and late movement disrupt his judgment, leading to more edge-based dismissals.
3. How is England preparing for Starc in the second Test?
By training extensively against left-arm throwers and simulating his angles and variations.
Disclaimer: This blog post reflects the author’s personal insights and analysis. Readers are encouraged to consider the perspectives shared and draw their own conclusions.
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