Mitchell Starc is hoping to test the England batsmen on faster wickets later this series
Aussie bouncer barrage set to continue
The uncharacteristically slow Gabba pitch may have neutered Australia’s famed pace attack on the opening two days of this first Magellan Ashes Test, but England's collapse on Friday has the Aussie attack licking their lips at the prospect of bowling on faster pitches later in the summer.
The tourists lost their last six wickets for just 56 runs on day two in Brisbane, four of which were caught when Australia's pacemen adopted an obvious short-ball strategy late in the innings.
Left-hander Dawid Malan started the collapse when he top-edged a pull shot to Shaun Marsh at deep square leg, while wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow and tailender Stuart Broad were also caught off pull shots.
Paceman Mitchell Starc says the fact Australia were able to bounce out England's batsmen on an sluggish Gabba surface has given them a boost for later in the series.
"I can’t wait to bowl on a fast wicket against these guys, if that’s the way they’re going to play it on a slow wicket," Starc told ABC Grandstand.
"It’s going to be great for us to take them on with a fast wicket and see how they react to that.
"It’s not a Gabba wicket that we’re used to ... a bit more sunshine and it might get a little bit quicker. But the first two days was a bit of a slog with the ball.
"We had to change a few game plans there and one was a bit of short-pitched bowling and we got a couple of wickets that way."
The surprising slowness of the Gabba pitch, normally regarded as one of the fastest in Australia, has worked against the home quicks who had been inspired mid-week by the destructive pace bowling of Mitchell Johnson on a much faster surface here four years ago.
The question is just where the Aussies will find the fast pitch they’re after later in the series; Adelaide Oval is now renowned as a swing bowling haven, the WACA Ground’s reputation as one of the fastest pitches in the world as been diminished in recent years, the drop-in wicket at the MCG is known for tennis-ball bounce more than express pace and the SCG has recently returned to its former glory as the best pitch for spinners in the country.
England quick Jake Ball, who made a brisk 14 at No.10 before guiding a short ball from Starc to David Warner at leg slip, said the visiting batsmen are confident they can handle any bouncer barrage that comes their way.
"Our batters have their plans and a lot of them have done a lot of work on the short ball and are comfortable playing the pull and the hook," he said. "It's down to them whether they want to play it or not.
"There's a balance of just letting them bowl bouncers at you and trying to score.
"For a period we looked very comfortable (against the short ball) just working it around the corner, getting the ones and ticking the scoreboard over."
With the first Test evenly poised heading into day three, the Aussie quicks will be hoping they won’t be defending a 0-1 series deficit when the series moves onto faster pitches later in the summer.
2017-18 International Fixtures:
Magellan Ashes Series
First Test Gabba, November 23-27. Buy tickets
Second Test Adelaide Oval, December 2-6 (Day-Night). Buy tickets
Third Test WACA Ground, December 14-18. Buy tickets
Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Buy tickets
Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Buy tickets
Gillette ODI Series v England
First ODI MCG, January 14. Buy tickets
Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Buy tickets
Third ODI SCG, January 21. Buy tickets
Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Buy tickets
Fifth ODI Perth TBC, January 28. Join the ACF
Prime Minister's XI
PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Buy tickets
Gillette T20 INTL Series
First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Buy tickets
Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Buy tickets
Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Buy tickets
Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 13
Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16
Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18
Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21