STARC, HEAD SET FOR GABBA

MITCHELL Starc and Travis Head are set to book the final two places in Australian’s Ashes line-up for the first Test at the Gabba.

News Corp understands Starc has the backing of selectors to keep Jhye Richardson at bay, while in a tighter contest, Head is favourite to get the nod as the No.5 batsman ahead of Usman Khawaja.

National selector George Bailey made it clear when he named the Ashes squad a fortnight ago that he wanted to give players certainty heading into the first Test, and Australia is presenting as a settled outfit, despite its preparation being interrupted by rain and the World Cup.

Head and Khawaja have both been in bumper form to start the Test summer, but the South Australian – fresh from a century in his last start – is the younger option at 27 and is well poised to reclaim the position he was dumped from after the MCG last summer.

Starc’s place in the bowling attack has been put under an intense spotlight in recent weeks, particularly due to the form of West Australian Richardson, who has been blitzing the early rounds of the Sheffield Shield, including a big statement at the Gabba in a game against Queensland.

But selectors are conscious that last summer against India, Starc was playing under the heavy mental burden of his father’s illness, and are putting confidence in his career numbers at the Gabba, where he averages more than four wickets a Test.

Starc is a must-have pick for the second Test in Adelaide, where he is the pink ball king, so the momentum he will gain from starting the series in Brisbane is also key.

In fact, news that the fifth Test is set to become a second day-night Test – likely in Hobart – suddenly makes Starc a real centrepiece of Australia’s Ashes hopes – and it could be in Melbourne or Sydney that Richardson is subbed in to give the left-armer a freshen up.

Pat Cummins told News Corp in an interview last week before he was appointed captain that the group had all confidence in Starc as a worldclass match-winner. “Look at his career, he’s been brilliant for Australia over a long period of time,” Cummins said.

“Mitch is looking great. He’s feeling fresh. Over in the World Cup, especially in the nets, he was bowling fast and swinging the ball. I’m expecting a big summer from Mitchy.”

Fox Cricket expert and former England women’s international Isa Guha said she would be leaning towards Starc due to his imposing presence as an enforcer greeting an England team short on preparation.