Starc in hat-trick mood ahead of Ashes

Australia paceman Mitchell Starc fired a warning to England ahead of the Ashes series with a hat-trick for New South Wales on the second day of a Sheffield Shield match on Monday.

The quick, who will spearhead Australia’s attack when the series begins later in November, claimed the wickets of Jason Behrendorff, David Moody and Simon Mackin in successive deliveries to end Western Australia’s first innings.

Behrendorff and Mackin were bowled by trademark Starc yorkers in the four-day match at Hurstville Oval while Moody was adjudged lbw trying to defend another.

The left-armer finished with figures of 4/65, while Josh Hazlewood, who is likely to open the bowling with Starc against England, did the damage at the top of the Western Australian order with 3/24.

“They are taking the Mickey out of me for cleaning up the tail again, but someone’s got to do it. So it was good fun,” Starc said after his hat-trick.

“I am pretty sure they all know where it is going and they all keep missing it so I will keep bowling it for now.”

Australia’s third frontline quick Pat Cummins took 2/31, while Test off-spinner Nathan Lyon claimed a single wicket at the cost of 39 runs.

Shaun Marsh (2), Mitchell Marsh (0) and Hilton Cartwright (0), who are all hoping to fill the vacant No 6 spot in the Australian batting line-up, did themselves no favours as Western Australia fell for 176 in reply to the hosts’ 270.

Australia captain Steve Smith added an unbeaten 74 to the 76 he scored in New South Wales’s first innings as he led the team to 166/2 by stumps on day three.

The Ashes begin at the Gabba in Brisbane on November 23 and Australia’s squad for the series is expected to be announced after this round of Sheffield Shield matches is completed.