Starc: England always vulnerable in tournaments
MITCHELL Starc is fit, punchy and has endorsed a purpose-built four-man fast bowling unit to “wreck havoc” on England when they arrive in Brisbane for the Ashes in November.
The Australian spearhead has also undermined the old enemy’s favouritism status for the Champions Trophy, citing their volatility in major tournaments.
After fracturing his right foot in March during the Test series in India, Starc has completed two weeks of solo-training in Brisbane before flying to England for the global ODI competition and has recently been able to come in off his long run.
“It’s been a positive period of rehab,” he said. “It’s been much easier to come back from than the last foot injury which lasted more like seven months. It hasn’t taken long to get the rhythm back.”
Starc is forthright in pointing the finger at his heavy workload since returning from the previous fracture in mid-2016 for the recurrence.
“The fact that I’ve bowled twice as many balls in a nine-month period than I had in any 12-month period before definitely contributed,” he said.
“It’s not a technical issue, it is more a workload and scheduling.”
Starc played 11 of his 36 Tests in the period, claiming 57 wickets at a productive 24.8, adding a further 21 in white-ball internationals.
Conscious of getting out of the nets and into the middle, he will play both of Australia’s Champions Trophy warm-up fixtures before their competition opener against New Zealand on June 3.
Reflecting on England’s tag as the team to beat, Starc noted their home advantage and acknowledged the positive cricket they have played, before cheekily noting that they “obviously haven’t done too well in tournaments” in the past.
“At times you are never quite sure what you are going to get with the Poms,” he added.
For Australia’s part, it will be the first time that Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and James Pattinson have featured in the same national squad, let alone team.
It is a prospect that enthuses the left-armer, and he is not shy about throwing that forward to the winter and the Ashes series Down Under, either.
“Jimmy is bowling well in England, Patty bowled perfectly in India and in the IPL and Joshy has had his time off, so the four of us are ready to go,” Starc said.
“We’ve, in a way, grown up and come through the ranks together, but haven’t had the chance to be in the same squad having had our injuries over that time.
“It is an exciting time for the four of us, but also for Australian cricket to have four young blokes, with some time together now, building a good, strong cartel for the next five or so years.”
Starc, at 27, is the oldest of the blistering quartet, Cummins the youngest having turned 24 this week.
“So we’ve still got plenty of time to wreck havoc on batsmen around the world and, hopefully, that starts with the Champions Trophy and then onwards to the Ashes.”
Can they co-exist in the same Ashes Test XI?
Starc says “Yes”. But not at the expense of off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who he declared as “world class” and not to be omitted. Instead, he believes the batting of the four quicks is strong enough to warrant a five-man attack.
“The fact that we can all bat presents a stronger case,” he said. “Jimmy Pattinson is averaging about 80 in his last ten first-class games. Josh is very capable with the bat, as is Cummins.”
Starc himself has nine Test halfcenturies at an average of 25. “We can all bat when called upon, and we’ve done that for Australia.”
The Australian squad assembles in England for the Champions Trophy on May 24.