Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc has thrown down the gauntlet to cricket curators across the country, urging them to ignore commercial pressures and prepare lively, bowler-friendly pitches for the upcoming Ashes series against England.
Pace vs Purse: The Ashes Pitch Debate
Starc's bold stance puts him at odds with Cricket Australia's financial interests, which rely heavily on Test matches extending into a fourth day to maximise gate receipts and broadcast revenue. Thirteen of a possible 25 days of play this summer have already sold out, signalling a potential financial windfall for the sport's governing body.
However, the left-arm quick believes the quality of cricket should trump financial considerations. "If we're worried about five days of revenue, then there's bigger problems at hand," Starc stated bluntly after his Sheffield Shield return for New South Wales.
Australian Bowlers Rally Behind Green Tops
Starc isn't alone in his call for more challenging surfaces. Stand-in captain Steve Smith and his deputy Travis Head have both publicly supported the push for greener wickets that could help Australia dismantle England's aggressive batting lineup.
The statistics reveal a dramatic shift in Australian Test conditions. Batters in the top six have seen their averages plummet to 31.93 this decade, a significant drop from 41.47 in the 2010s and 42.39 in the 2000s. Only six Tests in the past four Australian summers have reached day five, with another six concluding inside two or three days.
Starc's comments followed his Sheffield Shield performance against Victoria, where he claimed four wickets but also endured a Sam Harper onslaught that saw the Victorian smash 22 runs off a single over before being caught on the boundary after tea.
CA's Balancing Act: Performance vs Profit
Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg has acknowledged the "competing demands" facing Australian cricket. "There's the performance demands and what might suit the teams best. There are commercial returns, which are really important," Greenberg said last month.
Despite the financial pressures, Greenberg indicated CA wouldn't interfere with pitch preparation. "Ultimately, I think what we want to see is, in every city, that the wickets play like they should and there's a great balance between bat and ball," he added.
The SCG provided the liveliest Test pitch of last summer, with Australia's victory over India completed inside eight sessions. Starc hopes curators will follow that example, saying he wants them to "stick to their guns and prepare the wickets they want" rather than creating docile surfaces to ensure five days of play.
