Australia poised to unleash Starc in place of Pattinson

Australia have recalled Mitchell Starc to their squad for the fourth Test at Old Trafford which starts tomorrow. Starc has been omitted from the first three Tests, but his pace and bounce make him an attractive option as Australia look to fight back from defeat at Headingley.

James Pattinson makes way for Starc. He has played in two of the first three Tests, but needs to be managed carefully after a series of stress fractures in his back. He would still stand a strong chance of appearing in the final Test at the Oval.

Starc has a fine Test record, with 211 wickets at 28 apiece, but was left out at the start of the series, with Australia seeking to exert control by keeping England’s run rate down; Starc’s career economy rate is a relatively expensive 3.4. But seven wickets against Derbyshire in Australia’s tour game last week suggested he had located his rhythm with the red ball.

Threat: Mitchell Starc can swing the new ball and generate old-ball reverse swing

As a left-armer, Starc offers Australia another angle of attack. As well as prodigious new-ball swing, he can generate older-ball reverse swing, something for which Old Trafford is renowned.

Starc took four wickets in Australia’s World Cup group victory over England at Lord’s, but struggled to locate his line and length during his team’s semi-final defeat by Eoin Morgan’s men at Edgbaston, conceding 70 from nine overs. If Australia retain concerns over his economy rate, Peter Siddle could return to the side in support of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.

Australia will also need to reshuffle their batting line-up to accommodate the return of Steve Smith, who missed the third Test after a concussion sustained from being hit on the neck by a delivery from Jofra Archer.

The return of Smith means that Usman Khawaja is omitted. Khawaja, who has batted at No 3 throughout the series so far, has paid the price for a disappointing average of just 20.33 from his six innings.

Steve Waugh has also returned to the Australian set-up in his mentoring role before the fourth Test. Waugh was around for the first two Tests, but flew home after the Test at Lord’s. He arrived in England on Sunday night, and will be with the side for the final two Tests.

“There’s a reason we have guys like him and Ricky [Ponting] over,” Justin Langer, the coach, said.

“We talk about growing our leadership within the group, to be able to rub shoulders with those guys is a huge opportunity for them. Steve enjoyed it so much he wanted to come back. If they want to be here then what an opportunity for our young blokes to learn from them.”

AUSTRALIA SQUAD