Why Starc is so good with the pink ball - Finn

Mitchell Starc

The gladiatorial stadium stands between England and parity in the Ashes series.

The Gabba is not a happy hunting ground for England - they have not won in Brisbane since 1986 - and it will take all of their resolve, stubbornness and togetherness in order to change that record.

There is also the added challenge of the pink ball and how much Australia quick Mitchell Starc - player of the match for his 10 wickets in the first Test - loves bowling with it.

Starc will be coming into this Test full of confidence. As if he needed it, given his returns using the bright pink projectile. He is the best pink-ball bowler in the world.

The left-armer has taken 81 wickets in 14 day-night Tests, including five five-wicket hauls.

In traditional red-ball matches, Starc's bowling average is 28.97 and his strike-rate is 49.9. In pink-ball matches, those numbers drop dramatically to 17.08 and 33.3 respectively.

Picking the ball up out of the hand will be crucial for England this week, especially given how much faster Starc bowls with a pink ball.

Ordinarily, 69% of his deliveries are in excess of 87mph. When Starc bowls with a pink ball, that rises to 82%. His average speed of 89mph is the highest of any bowler to have taken a wicket in a day-night Test.

Starc does not swing the pink ball more than the red. In fact, he swings a new red ball more than a new pink one.

However, Starc keeps the pink ball swinging for longer. He gets more movement in the air in his second, third and fourth spells with a pink ball than he does with a red. His bowling average with a pink ball actually comes down after his first spell.

Starc's natural full length is also a big weapon with the pink ball. In Australia, deliveries pitching between 3-6m from the batter average 37.55 runs per wicket with a red ball. That drops to 19.53 with a pink one.

High pace, full length and swing for longer is the perfect combination of attributes for Starc to be so successful in day-night conditions.