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Starc identifies room for improvement

Left-armer devastates with old ball in player-of-the-match effort but says he can be better with the new cherry

Mitchell Starc's dominant performance proved the difference between Australia and South Africa in their Test series-opener but the left-armer believes his performance was far from the complete package.

In an ominous warning to a Proteas side that was blown away by 118 runs to hand Australia a 1-0 series lead, Starc revealed he still has one major area for improvement.

The spearhead obliterated South Africa's tail in both innings with devastating spells of reverse-swing bowling and was the major instigator of the hosts' lower-order collapses of 5-12 in their first innings and 5-15 in their second.

Nonetheless, Starc believes he fell short of expectations with the new ball. 

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"The reversing ball is going all right this season," Starc told SuperSport. "There's maybe a little bit of work to do with the new ball and getting a few more early wickets. 

"As a bowling unit, we've done really well. 

"It's nice to put a few in the right spot. To finish off a Test match like that over four and a bit days was pretty pleasing for the group."

Equally effective with both new and old balls when on song, Starc explained that the lower, slingier arm action required to best exploit a reverse-swinging ball comes more naturally to him than the more technically correct style best suited to new-ball bowling.

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"I've done it for a while now so I don't find it too difficult," Starc said of the contrasting methods. 

"(Reverse-swing bowling) is a more natural wrist position for me – it tends to be in the position I get when I get quite lazy and tired at the crease. When it is reversing, it's pretty natural for me. 

"It's more trying to keep it (his wrist) upright when the ball is new and trying to swing it naturally. It (getting the tail out) is a good habit to have, hopefully it continues for another three Test matches."

South African skipper Faf du Plessis conceded Starc's contribution was telling and lamented the disparity between the two sides' lower-order contributions.

From the fall of the sixth wicket in the four innings, Australia added a total of 166 runs while South Africa scored only 27 runs from the same stage.

"There was a real difference in skill with the reverse swing," said du Plessis, while also praising the efforts of his pace ace Kagiso Rabada.

"One bowler in each team has the potential to do that to the tail. We’ve got to find ways to eliminate their tail a lot quicker. As I said before the series, it's going to be a real crucial part, the amount of runs scored between eight and eleven."

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Player of the match Starc finished with match figures of 9-109, with six of his victims being lower order batsmen.

Du Plessis acknowledged that it was difficult for his tail-enders. 

"Starc reverse swings the ball at pace and the only weapon we have right now is Kagiso," he said. 

"The tail are going to have to scrap it and get as many runs as possible but we know as the top seven or eight batters that the responsibility lies with us."

Qantas tour of South Africa

South Africa squad: Faf du Plessis (c), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Theunis de Bruyn, AB de Villiers, Dean Elgar, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada.

Australia squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Cameron Bancroft, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Jon Holland, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine, Jhye Richardson, Chadd Sayers, Mitchell Starc.

Warm-up match: Australia beat South Africa A by five wickets. Report, highlights

First Test Kingsmead, Durban, March 1-5. Live coverage

Second Test St George's Park, Port Elizabeth, March 9-13. Live coverage

Third Test Newlands, Cape Town, March 22-26. Live coverage

Fourth Test Wanderers, Johannesburg, March 30-April 3. Live coverage