Hot Starc is back in the swing

MITCHELL Starc has recaptured his rhythm and is ready to return to his best after claiming 10 scalps against Tasmania as NSW romped to an eight-wicket win.

Starc wrapped up his best Sheffield Shield match figures for the Blues yesterday, taking 10-60 for the game to set up the victory for the Blues.

Overlooked for all but one Ashes Test and far from his best against Queensland, Starc’s performance will likely end any doubts over his expected return against Pakistan next month.

He worked closely with bowling coach Andre Adams to make slight changes to his technique last week, before sending down 44 overs against Tasmania.

Left-armer Starc will now play a one-dayer for NSW tomorrow before entering camp for Australia’s Twenty20 series, but he was confident that wouldn’t impact on his rhythm with the red ball.

“The biggest thing for me is that continued cricket,” he said. “I find that sometimes for myself that stop-start cricket can impact my rhythm. “I don’t really mind if it’s red ball, white ball or pink ball. Just having that continued cricket helps that rhythm and keeps things going.

“That’s probably what I’ve seen in the past few weeks.

“Coming from the first game of Shield cricket being a bit clouded to being pretty clear for the last seven or eight days and having a good performance this week.

Starc bowled with pace and control in the second innings at Drummoyne Oval and had the ball swinging on the abrasive pitch.

He took 3-4 in one first-innings spell on Saturday morning, including the wicket of Tim Paine, while his return of 5-20 in the second innings was relentless.

Starc’s bowling helped dismiss Tasmania for just 140, before NSW cruised to the target of 45 in the first session of the final day with David Warner finishing unbeaten on 15.

Steve Smith and Moises Henriques had earlier set up the win for the Blues on Saturday, as both scored first-innings centuries.

Meanwhile, Starc said he is yet to speak to coach Justin Langer or chief selector Trevor Hohns about his Test summer, and insists he’s cleared his mind of stressing over a recall.

“I can’t say I’ve ever worried about the selection side of it,” he said. “I have always tried to just bowl well in whichever game I am playing in at the time.

“Obviously it comes up in a lot of media.

“But it’s always been a thing where you are performing well for your state or your country, selection is going to take care of itself.

“If you think about that sort of stuff it clouds your mind and your performances.

“So, it’s nice just to stay level.”