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Sourav Ganguly Blames Mitchell Starc For RavichandranAshwin's Failure In RanchiFormer India skipper Sourav Ganguly feels the absence of left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc in the recently concluded Ranchi Testplayed a pivotal role in nullifying the effect of off-spinnersRavichandran Ashwin and Nathan Lyon.Both spinners performed brilliantly in the Bengaluru Test, takingeight wickets each but cut a sorry figure in the third match.While Ashwin returned with the match figures of 2/185, Lyonconceded 163 runs for his lone wicket.Their indifferent performance left everyone surprised butGanguly feels the absence of Starc was a major factor behind it.The former player said both Ashwin and Lyon failed to find therough outside the off-stump which is often created by left-armbowlers.Ganguly also praised Peter Handscomb and Shaun Marsh fortheir dodgy knocks which helped Australia salvage a draw. At63/4 and their in-form captain already back in the hut, thevisitors were looking well out of the contest.However, Handscomb and Marsh stitched together a brilliantpartnership of 124 runs to keep their team’s hopes of winningthe series alive.

Off-spinners did not get wickets here. This is because Mitchell Starc was notthere, so the rough outside off-stump was not created, Ganguly told reporters.