STARC WARNING

MITCHELL Starc has sent the most timely of warnings to England, saying he is only warming up after returning career-best bowling figures.

The fast bowling ace took 8-73 in South Australia’s second innings yesterday, setting up a six-wicket Sheffield Shield win for NSW in Adelaide.

But Starc says his rhythm pleased him most about his best innings haul.

He was playing his first long-form game in more than seven months since suffering a foot injury during a Test in India last March.

“It was nice to get some overs under the belt, 40-odd overs, and some time in the legs out on the field ... find some nice rhythm,” he said.

Starc took seven consecutive Redbacks wickets, after claiming two in SA’s first in- nings as part of his 10-wicket haul.

He said sending a message to England was not his motivation.

“Everyone is going to be mentioning the Ashes, but, for us, it’s winning games for NSW,” he said.

Starc did concede the buzz was building for his first Ashes series on home soil.

“There is always going to be the excitement there, I haven’t played one [Ashes series] at home,” he said.

His feats meant SA could only set the Blues 57 runs to win — they lost four wickets in the chase, including another failure to captain Steve Smith.

Smith made nine to follow his three in the first innings but David Warner spent valuable time at the crease, making 32 from 73 balls.