Hat-trick hero Michael sends a Starc warning to England
SYDNEY: Australia paceman Mitchell Starc fired an ominous 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 yesterday.
The quick, who will spearhead Australia’s attack when the series begins later this month, 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 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. I was pretty happy with my rhythm.”
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 number six 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 showed he was in good form with the bat ahead of the Ashes by adding an unbeaten 74 to the 76 he scored in the NSW’s first innings as he led the team to 166 for two 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 in completed.
Meanwhile, England’s pace spearhead James Anderson is keen to bowl with the pink Kookaburra ball in the day-night warm-up game in Adelaide to gain experience he believes will come in handy in the Ashes. England have played just one day-night test at home, with Dukes balls, and will face Australia in pink ball cricket in the second match of the fivetest series at the Adelaide Oval from December 2.
“Having the chance to practise with that and play in a first-class game is really important for us, especially in Adelaide where the test match is going to be,” Anderson said after arriving in Adelaide for the match starting tomorrow.
“I’ve heard the pink Kookaburra does swing a bit more. I guess finding out how much the ball swings and what time of day it swings will be really useful for us.
“We spoke to the South Africans and they said it was difficult for batsmen in the twilight period and when the lights came on.”
Anderson took four wickets in the touring side’s drawn opening warm-up game in Perth against a young Western Australia XI with their batsmen also spending some useful time in the middle.