Starc still our dangerman despite spinners' success, says Marsh

Everyone may be concerned about spin on tour in India, but Mitchell Starc remains Australia's main weapon for the second Test in Bangalore, according to all-rounder Mitch Marsh.

Australia's spinners took 17 out of the 20 wickets in Pune as the tourists rolled to a stunning win over India inside three days, but expectations are for far less turn in the second match in the series which starts on Saturday.

Starc bowled well without as much reward as Steven O'Keefe and Nathan Lyon in Pune, and Marsh was asked whether he thought the paceman had got into the Indian batsmen's heads.

"He's probably one of the best bowlers in the world if not the best bowler in the world," Marsh said.

"He's certainly the best reverse swing bowler in the world so while all the talk is about our spinners, he's still our biggest weapon I think.

"I think it's great if he's in the Indians' heads, and hopefully he can take a few wickets for us."

If the wicket is indeed less of a turner, Australia's seam bowling will come more into play, and in particular the need to get the ball to reverse.

"Yeah, even in Pune, the wicket itself did a lot of the work for us, so it's not necessarily the square here, these balls scuff up pretty well early on," Marsh said.

"The reverse swing is going to be huge for us (in Bangalore) and if we can get it going, we've got two of the best reverse swing bowlers in the world, so it's still going to be a huge weapon for us."

Marsh not letting social media hate get to him

Marsh was a high-profile casualty of Australia's poor start to the summer of cricket, but he made his way back to the squad and team in India after being dropped.

"In a way it was a good thing, because I just went back to the Big Bash and enjoyed myself, and tried to slog a few and managed to get a few out of the middle," he said.

"But away from the game I certainly worked on a few things I feel like will hold me in good stead if I can play in Australia again or in other conditions (than India).

"Sometimes it's nice to get out of the spotlight. I was obviously under pressure there for a while, and in a way it was nice to just get back to playing for the Scorchers and here I am."

Marsh, like another Australian all-rounder Shane Watson before him, has been the recipient of plenty of social media criticism of his performances.

"I try not to look too much into it ... I wouldn't have too much confidence if I read all the comments on Facebook and Twitter," he said.

"It's part and parcel, it's playing cricket for Australia, to be playing at the top level, and people are always entitled to their opinion.

"So, that's fine by me, it doesn't stress me out too much."

 

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