Mitchell Starc wants to rattle Indians with reverse swing in Bangalore Test

Mitchell Starc, Australia's No. 1 fast bowler, is hoping to exploit "India's weakness" against lethal fast bowling during the second Test match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru starting Saturday. Starc, who recently severed his ties with Royal Challengers Bangalore, was an integral part of the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise for nearly three years.

On Tuesday, Starc said he hopes to bank on his knowledge of the surface in Bengaluru, which is traditionally a flat surface that helps fast bowlers extract reverse swing. "I can't see it (the pitch) being too bouncy or quick because it's a weakness of the Indian batters. We'll probably see it not turning as much as this (Pune) wicket has, or breaking up as quickly. For me it’s trying to use my air speed and getting that ball reversing," Starc told reporters Tuesday before the Aussies prepared to travel from Pune to Bengaluru, via The Daily Telegraph.

Mitchell Starc hoping to exploit India's 'weakness'

During the first of the four Tests, the Australians notched up a shocking 333-run victory courtesy Steve O'Keefe's match haul of 12/70. Steven Smith's team is trying to replicate the success of Ricky Ponting's unit in 2004 which registered a rare Test series win on Indian soil. Prior to the series, Smith & Co. were pipped as the overwhelming underdogs but the Pune Test has put the pressure back on the home team.

Starc is hoping to rattle the Indian batsmen with reverse-swing, a year after he did the same to Sri Lanka's batters. “Last year’s Sri Lankan series is probably a blueprint for the way I want to bowl over here in terms of using my air speed and really exploiting that reverse-swing to batsmen. I’m sure it will be a pretty dry wicket again so that’ll probably help reverse swing and we know we’ve got huge reverse swing when we’ve got it here in India. If you’re moving it off the straight, it makes it hard no matter where you’re batting or if it’s home or away conditions," added Starc, who finished with figures of 2/38 during the first Test at Pune.

After the Bangalore Test, the Australians will travel to Ranchi and Dharamsala for the third and fourth Tests in the latter part of March. Australia is expected to field the same playing XI for the second Test.