Mitchell Starc: Steve Smith didn’t consult us when deciding not to enforce follow-on

England were bowled out for 227 but the Australians opted to try and set the tourists a target instead of tossing the ball back to their in-form quicks

Starc feels that his side were still on top despite losing most of their top order cheaply in the difficult night session (Getty)

Mitchell Starc admitted that Australia captain Steve Smith didn’t consult his bowlers as he decided not to enforce the follow-on at the Adelaide Oval despite ripping through England on day three of the second Test.

England were bowled out for 227, some 215 short of the hosts’ first innings total, but the Australians opted to try and set the tourists a target instead of tossing the ball back to their in-form quicks.

Four wickets at the end of the day for England pair James Anderson and Chris Woakes wrested back some momentum for England, but Starc feels that his side were still on top despite losing most of their top order cheaply in the difficult night session.

“We know the night sessions are the toughest but we’ve still got a lead of 260 and there’s two night sessions to go. Once the sun comes out, it’s the easiest time to bat, to get some runs and build on our lead.

[The declaration] was purely up to Smitty. There’s pros and cons to both decisions. The bowlers will have some extra time to freshen up and hopefully knock them over.”

And when pressed on Smith’s decision-making after Australia’s late-day collapse, Starc pointed to the fact that England will have to endure two such night sessions if they are to save the second Test in Adelaide.

“That’s why he’s captain, he makes the decisions. You don’t look past the fact that there’s two night sessions to go. We had a tough session with the bat, but there’s a lot of cricket to go. There’s no reason why we can’t do a really big lead and have England on the ropes in the night session.

“We know the night session’s the toughest time to bat. England have only had to do it for ten overs so far, and if they want to win this test match, they’re going to have to go through two night sessions. Great times for us. We’re still very much in the driving seat.”