Australia vs Pakistan 2019: 3 talking points from the series

#2 Australia’s T20I bowling line-up looks in fine fettle

Starc looked close to his best

Australia opted to field their first-choice pacers for Pakistan’s visit and it worked a charm as the hosts methodically dismantled the tourists’ brittle batting line-up.

Kane Richardson was brilliant while Sean Abbott also gave a good account of himself in the solitary game he played. Pat Cummins too, did his job well without setting the world ablaze. However, most promisingly for the Aussies, Mitchell Starc hit his straps, meaning that he terrorised batsmen with his raw pace and searing yorkers.

The past few months have seen the left-arm pacer fall out of favour in red-ball cricket. Yet, against Pakistan in the T20Is, he portrayed that he has plenty to offer in limited-overs cricket courtesy his style of bowling.

Often in Test matches, Starc is guilty of bowling too full or too short, thereby hinting at a lack of patience at hitting a good length throughout the day. However, in T20Is, that ploy becomes essential as the batsmen are always kept on their toes.

In addition to the pacer, the spinners’ plans also came to fruition as Adam Zampa and Ashton Agar alternated between their attacking and defensive roles.

Thus, with a home cricketing extravaganza on the horizon, Australia seem to possess a bowling attack capable of denting any opposition. And, one reckons that would bode well for the World T20, especially considering bowlers usually form the backbone of success in a multi-nation tournament.