Starc so scary that batsmen ‘have no chance against him’
STUART CLARK says Mitchell Starc’s current form means he will be virtually unplayable during the Ashes.
Starc completed his preparations for the series against England by claiming two hat-tricks in one match to inspire New South Wales to victory against Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield.
Clark, who took 26 wickets at 17 to help his country whitewash England in the 2006/07 Ashes, was present at Sydney’s Hurtsville Oval this week to witness Starc’s rare feat.
And he said: “I was out there late on day three and talking to Justin Langer [Western Australia’s coach] and a few of the guys and they said he was bowling that fast that it is getting scary for those involved. He said the batsmen just stand no chance against him.”
There was room for criticism of Starc, though, from Clark, who added: “He can bowl full, fast and straight. What gets him in a bit of trouble is he probably tries it a bit too much when the wicket has got a bit of life in it.
“He doesn’t bowl enough balls on a good length so that they nick it behind. When it comes to blasting out the tail-enders or the surprise ball, you would throw him the ball every day of the week and say, ‘have a lash at this’, because you know he will knock them over.”
Australia spinner Nathan Lyon, meanwhile, has spoken of the special bond between himself Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins.
All four New South Wales players are expected to comprise Australia’s attack for the first Test at the Gabba and Lyon says their minds immediately switched to how to topple England as they sat in the dressing-room following their Shield victory this week.
“It was just the four of us sitting there talking about the confidence that we’re taking out of a performance like that,” said Lyon.
“It’s a pretty special bond that we’ve got there at the moment so we’re looking forward come Brisbane and the rest of the Test matches that we can have some results like that.
“The best thing about the four of us is that we’re really good mates. We’re forever texting each other and calling each other, so we’re actually really good mates.
“In that sense, you want to see your mates do well, so it does help when you’re trying to build a combination and bond with each other. It’s something pretty special.
“I know they’re all pretty keen, pretty excited and they can’t stop talking about the Ashes so to be a part of that bowling unit, it’s going to be special.”
On Starc’s double hat-trick, not to mention a hundred for Australia captain Steve Smith in the same match, Lyon added: “I’ve never seen it before. I don’t think I’ve ever played in a team that’s got a hattrick, so to have two 30 hours apart was pretty special.
“Hopefully England were watching. It was a pretty good performance.You look at Steve Smith who got a big hundred there as well. All good signs.”