The pace spearhead of Australia, Mitchell Starc wouldn’t be expecting a grassy pitch before landing in Abu Dhabi where the second Test against Pakistan will be played starting on Tuesday. He was made to toil on a typically lifeless pitch in the drawn first Test in Dubai, grabbing just one wicket while conceding 108 runs after more than 40 overs’ work in broiling heat.

However, Starc would’ve felt relieved after watching a green-top when the covers were unveiled at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium. Talking about the same, he said, “It might be completely different tomorrow when they cut the grass off. If we were playing on it today, the fast bowlers would be pretty happy with the covering of grass. A lot of us expect that grass to be gone by tomorrow and probably even less come game day. We’re ready for whatever they throw at us and will try to back up from a good fight in that first Test.”

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The lanky pacer is known for bowling short, sharp spells rather than wearing batsmen down with sustained pressure, he said he had learned to tone down his natural aggression in the United Arab Emirates. While one wicket was a much lesser number than what he is used to getting at home, Starc embraced the ‘workhorse’ role more associated with pace partner Peter Siddle and kept the run rate stingy.

However, both he and Siddle were left in the shade by Pakistan quick Mohammad Abbas, who led all bowlers with seven wickets in Dubai to continue his stellar start in Test cricket. Starc said Australia’s bowlers had studied Abbas and his field placements with interest.

Starc explained, “Obviously he’s not very fast but he’s very consistent in where he was putting the ball and challenging our defence all the time. We were pretty good for the most part, we stuck to our plans (but) it’s definitely something we can take out of the way he approached his fast bowling.”