Daily Mail

STARC: WE CAN HANDLE PRESSURE

- By LAWRENCE BOOTH

MITCHELL STARC has backed Australia’s big-game temperamen­t to see them through against England in Saturday’s Champions Trophy clash at Edgbaston. England are already through, but Australia will almost certainly need a win to reach the last four after washouts against New Zealand and Bangladesh. But Starc, who polished off Bangladesh at the Oval on Monday with four wickets for one run in nine balls, believes Australia’s pedigree will stand them in good stead. ‘Our record is pretty good in tournament play,’ he said. ‘We probably perform at our best when we know it’s a knockout situation or we know we need to make a step up. That brings the best out of a lot of our players. Everyone’s looking forward to this fixture.’ In World Cups, Starc has a point. Between 1999 and 2011, Australia went unbeaten in 33 straight games spread across four tournament­s. The only team to have beaten them in a knockout game since they lost to Sri Lanka in the 1996 final was India, six years ago. But in four matches against England at the Champions Trophy, they have lost twice — both at Edgbaston. While Australia’s batsmen have faced just nine overs against New Zealand and 16 against Bangladesh, their bowlers have improved through the tournament. Captain Steve Smith blasted them after they allowed New Zealand’s top order to get off to a flyer. But six wickets for Josh Hazlewood ensured the Kiwis lost their last seven for 37, before the Bangladesh­is were skittled for 182. ‘If you’re not on the money, it can go a bit pear-shaped,’ said Starc. ‘We’ll just focus on what we need to do to beat England. We’ve played enough cricket against them in the last little while. We know all about their players.’

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