Smith: Starc and Cummins more nasty than Johnson

STEVE SMITH today warned England that Australia’s pace duo Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins are even more terrifying than Mitchell Johnson.

Starc and Cummins are two of the world’s quickest bowlers, with Smith hoping Starc can reprise the role of Mitchell Johnson in 2013-14, when he took 37 wickets in the series as England lost 5-0.

Australia are strong favourites to regain the Ashes and are backing Starc and Cummins to propel them to victory at The Gabba, where they have not lost a Test since 1988, from tonight. But there remains a doubt over opening batsman David Warner, prompting the selectors to call in Glenn Maxwell as cover in case the vice-captain’s neck injury rules him out.

Middle-order batsman Shaun Marsh also complained of a stiff back during practice today, leaving Smith uncertain about his XI for the opening Test. Given the problems in the batting line-up, it was understandable Smith should prefer to focus on his attack.

“Thinking back to 2013-14, when Mitchell Johnson was bowling in the nets, these guys are just as nasty — if not more nasty at the moment,” said the Aussie captain. “A couple of the net sessions I’ve had against Cummins and Starc have been quite scary, so that’s really exciting for us.

“These three [Starc, Cummins and Josh Hazlewood] have been working up towards this series. They’re fresh and bowling fast.”

Though Australia have publicly been bullish about Warner’s chances of playing, their decision to send for Maxwell suggests they have more doubts about him than they will admit.

If Warner is ruled out and Marsh declared fit, the latter may be promoted to open with Cameron Bancroft, leaving Maxwell to bat in the middle order. how I’d want my players to go about things but if he wants to come out and say that, it’s up to him.

“It’s slightly out of character. I know Nathan from playing club cricket in Prospect [a suburb of Adelaide]. It doesn’t seem very real.

“Would I get stuck into him verbally out in the middle? I’m not sure that’s my style. You try to go about things in your own way. Every player is slightly different and will have his own way of dealing with stuff but I will leave the talking to others.

“But we need to do what suits us best as a team, so if a player feels he needs to have a word, I am all for him doing whatever makes him feel comfortable out in the middle.”

Australia captain Steve Smith tried to play down Lyon’s outburst as another example of the pre-Ashes verbal battle which has characterised these contests for many years.

Even so, Australia seem to have pushed the boat out this time. David Warner has also spoken about creating a “war” with England and trying to generate “hatred” for them.

“I don’t know where it came from but it is all part of the pre-Ashes banter,” said Smith. “We have to ensure we perform well on the field and we’re going to play good, hard, aggressive cricket.”