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Former fast bowler Brett Lee on Thursday said if Australia’s World Cup hero Mitchell Starc is to carry his good form in upcoming Ashes series, he has to heed the advice of legendary Glenn McGrath.
Starc, player of the tournament in Australia’s recent World Cup triumph, appears set to share the new ball with Mitchell Johnson in the upcoming two-Test series against the West Indies, and when Ryan Harris returns for the Ashes in July Starc is likely to form part of a three-pronged pace attack, reports cricket.com.au.
Lee said words of wisdom from McGrath, who holds the world record for the highest number of Test wickets (563) by a fast bowler, helped transform his Test career and that Starc should try to emulate McGrath’s skills.
“Attack as much as you want in one-day cricket, but then get back to your channels of line and length still bowling those good spells but do what Glenn McGrath did day-in and day-out and just hit the top of off (stump),” Lee told cricket.com.au.
“It was when Glenn (McGrath) had moved on in 2007-08, which was my best season and when I was the leader of the (Australia) attack. I could have gone too over (the top) or put pressure upon myself, but I chose to embrace it.”
“The parting words Glenn told me, and ones I’ll never forget, were to be patient. Test cricket is about being patient and you feel like bowling a bouncer, run in and hit the top of off (stump),” Lee added.
Lee advised left-arm pacer Starc, 25, to be patient in Test cricket.
“Starc needs to work out how to play the attacking role as a bowler in Test cricket, and also knowing when to pull it back and bowl that right line and length, because if you’re too attacking in Test cricket it can be detrimental as well,” Lee said.
“In Test match cricket, you have to attack as a bowler because the batsman has time. He can wait on you and get on through your four or five-over spell and then pick off the next guy,” the 38-year-old concluded.
