"Everyone Was Slightly Surprised": Mitchell Starc On Pakistan's Lack Of Pace In 1st Test Against Australia

Australia's experienced left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc was "surprised" to see Pakistan's lack of pace in the first Test which was one of the most talked about points. Pakistan are quite restricted in terms of putting up a quality pace bowling line-up with Naseem Shah nursing an injury and Haris Rauf opting out of the Test series. Without experience, the majority of the burden fell on Shan Masood's deputy Shaheen Shah Afridi, but even he struggled to generate pace. "I think everyone was slightly surprised at the lower pace of the Pakistan bowlers, when you're generally used to some guys getting in the 150s [kph]. I don't think that pace is the be all and end all but it certainly plays a part and can help," Starc said, speaking to media as quoted from ESPNcricinfo.

During the first Test, Afridi averaged around 130 kmph and saw a drop to a high 120 kmph in the second innings. Khurram Shahzad bowled at a usual medium pace, while, Ameer Jamal on a rare occasion touched the 140 mark.

But the lack of pace factor may not be on the cards in Melbourne as Starc acknowledged that the extra pace wouldn't be as crucial at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

"Case in point, you look at Scotty Boland who can bowl good wheels, but he's not at your top end of pace bowlers. But he generates a lot of sideways movement here in Melbourne, obviously being his home ground. He's done it for a long time and we saw that obviously against England, where every ball he bowled could have been a wicket. So I don't think that pace is the be all and end all. Certainly, for our attack we all complement each other really well by doing things very differently," Starc said.

Pakistan's lack of pace not only grabbed the attention of the opposition camp but also