Starc pulled from one-day squad

Updated January 12, 2013 13:55:27

Australia will go into Sunday's second one-day international against Sri Lanka in Adelaide without the services of young paceman Mitchell Starc, who has suffered mild calf soreness.

Cricket Australia announced Starc's withdrawal from the side on Saturday morning, just hours after Australia's crushing 107-run victory over the tourists in which the 22-year-old took 1 for 25.

Team physio Alex Kountouris said he was not too worried about the niggle.

"Whilst we are not majorly concerned about it, we have withdrawn him from the game on Sunday as a precaution," he said in a statement.

"He will be reassessed over the next few days and is a possibility to play next weekend's matches against Sri Lanka if his symptoms resolve."

Australian selectors have called up Kane Richardson as cover for Starc.

"Kane has been called in as cover in the squad due to his impressive form in the limited overs formats this season," chief selector John Inverarity said in a statement.

"This provides another great opportunity for a young player as we look to build towards Cricket World Cup in 2015."

Right-armer Richardson is yet to make his Australian debut but has 16 domestic one-day caps and 20 Twenty20 games under his belt for South Australia and Adelaide Strikers.

Tags: onedayseries, cricket, sport, adelaide-5000, sa, australia

First posted January 12, 2013 13:55:27

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Starc agrees with rotation policy

Updated December 30, 2012 17:56:57

Australian paceman Mitchell Starc says the decision to rest him from the Boxing Day Test was the right one for the team, even though he was disappointed to miss out.

The young left-armer is expected to return to the side for the final Test against Sri Lanka at the SCG later this week.

It will be Starc's first Test at his home ground in Sydney.

He was philosophical about missing out on what would have been his first Boxing Day Test in Melbourne which finished in just over two and a half days on Friday.

"If it went five days, I could have ended up bowling 50 overs or 40 overs, so it was the right decision for the team at the time," Starc said.

Starc said last week he was "shattered" to miss the Boxing Day showdown and asked again on Sunday if he was disappointed to miss out in Melbourne, he said: "absolutely, any player who misses a Test is going to be disappointed.

"But it's all about the team. It was the right decision for my well-being and the team as well."

Starc was unsurprised that his replacement for the Boxing Day Test, debutant Jackson Bird, got amongst the wickets.

"It was no real surprise that he's taken wickets at Test level, he's done it at domestic level for two years now," Starc said.

He was rendered speechless when he found out on Saturday that middle order batting linchpin Mike Hussey would be making the SCG Test his last.

"It was quite a shock, hopefully we can send him out the way he deserves," Starc said.

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, sydney-2000, nsw, australia

First posted December 30, 2012 14:50:42

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Starc and Siddle deliver Australian win

By Andrew McGarry

Updated December 19, 2012 08:04:42

Six wickets in a dramatic final session have given Australia victory in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Bellerive Oval.

Pace did the damage, as first Peter Siddle and then Mitchell Starc cut through some brave Sri Lankan resistance to clinch a 137-run victory with 10.4 overs left in the day.

As it happened: First Test, Day Five

The win - Australia's first Test victory of the summer - avoided a repeat of Adelaide, where the home side failed to take enough wickets on the final day to defeat South Africa.

Australia will go into the Boxing Day Test with a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series.

Starc took 5 for 63 following on from his strong performance in Perth against South Africa.

Siddle was again crucial for Australia, taking key wickets as the final day wore on, keeping Australia in with a chance of victory.

He took 4 for 50 to go with his first innings haul of 5 for 54 and was unsurprisingly named man of the match.

Siddle told Grandstand that it was a tough challenge to prise out the Sri Lankan batting on the final day.

"Any bowling effort is going to be hard, but we knew if we kept persisting, and kept bowling in the right areas that the wickets would come," he said.

"It was just like the first innings, we dug in and kept nagging away at them ... and we got the results.

"Credit to the whole bowling unit, the way we went about it and the way we built the pressure - and getting 20 wickets for the match was outstanding."

Captain Michael Clarke had nothing but praise for his team's effort after the match.

"I think the fight the bowlers showed was outstanding, I think the way the batters went about in the second innings ... that it didn't bother them that they had to sacrifice their wicket for the team and score as quickly as they could - that takes a lot of character," he said.

Asked what he said to his team before the final session, he replied: "(I said) take six wickets, please!"

"We knew it was going to take hard work on that pitch, and consistent bowling in one area, execution of our plans - so credit to the bowlers, they certainly did that today."

Clarke joined the growing Australian injury list when he retired hurt in the second innings with a hamstring injury.

Asked if he was confident he would be able to recover in time to take his place for the Boxing Day Test, he replied: "No doubt".

The Sri Lankans had begun the day at 2 for 65 facing an uphill task to secure a draw on a deteriorating wicket.

The key to survival was the two veterans, captain Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara.

The pair frustrated the Australian attack for some time, taking the score to 2 for 112 before Siddle made the breakthrough, dismissing Jayawardene for 19, caught by Clarke at slip.

The big wicket was Sangakkara, and when he was trapped in front by Siddle for 63, it looked like Australia was well on its way to victory.

A rearguard action by Thilan Samaraweera and Angelo Mathews showed Sri Lanka had other ideas, however.

When Clarke threw the ball to Matthew Wade just before tea with Sri Lanka still four wickets down, it was clear the pressure was back on the home side.

Enter Siddle, who drew an edge to the keeper to remove Mathews (19), then produced an unplayable ball that swung late and stayed low to dismiss Samaraweera for 49, leaving the tourists at 6 for 218 and the tail exposed.

Then Starc took over with a brilliant spell of bowling that accounted for Prasanna Jayawardene for 21 and Nuwan Kulasekara for 9.

There was still a chance of survival for the tourists, but when Starc sent down another yorker that pitched at Rangana Herath's toes before cannoning into the stumps, it was down to the last wicket.

Siddle had one last chance to grab the last wicket and make history with the first 10-wicket Test match haul at Bellerive, but Chanaka Welegedara and Shaminda Eranga managed to negotiate his over.

It was Starc who dismissed Eranga with a short ball feathered to the keeper to kickstart the Australian celebrations.

Sri Lankan captain Jayawardene told Grandstand things had looked positive at tea before Siddle and Starc took over.

"Siddle bowled a very good spell after tea and he got rid of Samaraweera and Angelo (Mathews). From that point on it was going to be tough," he said.

"I thought throughout the Test match we fought very well.

"(I'm) a bit disappointed but at the end of the day we were behind in this Test match, trying to save (the game) after four days of cricket, not a good position to be in.

"Losing to a better side today, we need to go back to the drawing board.

"There are positives we can take from this, (Tillakaratne) Dilshan batted very well, and the bowlers did bowl well in patches - we need to be more consistent."

Tags: cricket, sport, hobart-7000, tas, australia, sri-lanka

First posted December 18, 2012 19:42:38

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Starc, Hilfenhaus in bowling showdown

Updated November 21, 2012 07:15:18

Michael Clarke could make his decision on whether to replace Ben Hilfenhaus with left-armer Mitchell Starc for the second Test against South Africa after training on Wednesday.

Incumbent Hilfenhaus is desperately trying to hold onto his place in the attack for the Adelaide match starting on Thursday, after a lacklustre effort in Brisbane.

Starc is favoured to come into the side for his fifth cap, but former skipper Ricky Ponting said Clarke had a tough call to make after Hilfenhaus made a late bid for a reprieve after amping up his efforts in the nets on Tuesday.

"Talking to the coaches, they are a lot happier with his work (Tuesday) than (on Monday)," said Ponting.

"They thought he bowled better and that's a good sign for us."

Starc's swing could come in handy against Proteas skipper Graeme Smith who has traditionally struggled against left-armers - namely Indian seamer Zaheer Khan.

The 22-year-old Starc said he had not spoken to Clarke about Smith's weakness, but felt he was in a better position to make an impact at Test level than he was when he debuted last summer in Brisbane.

"We had it swinging around in the nets (on Monday) so hopefully we can bring that out into the game, and hopefully get the ball to reverse a bit, where it's more abrasive on the dryer track," Starc said.

"(Australian coach) Mickey Arthur has said right from the get-go, there's a plan for everyone.

"He's been quite honest. He's spoken to me a lot about coming in around the team ... they have kept me informed and it's been pretty successful over the past 12 months.

"I feel I have improved my game and learnt so much being around the Australian team, then gone away and been left alone a bit as well, to my own devices."

Ponting said Starc was a special talent and predicts big things.

"I have been impressed with Mitchell and his development in all forms of the game over the past 12 months," he said.

"What he has done for Australia in one-day cricket over the past few months has been pretty spectacular and we are just hoping he keeps developing that way as far as his red ball cricket is concerned.

"When you have somebody who can bowl at his pace and a left-armer like that who can swing the ball back ... they're a very dangerous proposition for any batsman and a nice acquisition for any team to have."

Clarke could also decide on Wednesday on Shane Watson's availability as he recovers from a calf strain.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, adelaide-5000, sa, australia

First posted November 21, 2012 07:13:24

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Watson, Starc among T20's best

Updated October 08, 2012 21:12:16

Australians Shane Watson and Mitchell Starc were named in the ICC's team of the World Twenty20 tournament on Monday following West Indies' victory over host nation Sri Lanka in the final.

Outgoing Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene was named skipper of the ICC's side, having announced his decision to give up the captaincy after the hosts lost by 36 runs on Sunday.

It was Sri Lanka's fourth successive defeat in a World Cup final, in front of a disappointed full house at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

A five-member ICC panel selected three Sri Lankan players and two each from the new champions and Australia in the 11-man team, the governing body said in a statement.

Chris Gayle and all-rounder Watson, the player of the tournament, were named openers while India's Virat Kohli, Jayawardene, England's Luke Wright and explosive West Indies batsman Marlon Samuels filled up the middle-order slots.

Young Australian seamer Starc and limited-overs specialist Lasith Malinga were the two fast bowlers in the team, while experienced Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal and Ajantha Mendis of Sri Lanka were named as the two slow bowlers.

Former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum was selected as the wicket-keeper, while South Africa was the only major cricketing nation without a representative in the team.

Team: Chris Gayle (West Indies), Shane Watson (Australia), Virat Kohli (India), Mahela Jayawardena (Sri Lanka - captain), Luke Wright (England), Brendon McCullum (New Zealand), Marlon Samuels (West Indies), Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka), Mitchell Starc (Australia), Saeed Ajmal (Pakistan), Ajantha Mendis (Sri Lanka).

Reuters

Tags: twenty20, cricket, sport, sri-lanka

First posted October 08, 2012 21:12:16

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Australia summon Starc for final England ODI

Updated July 09, 2012 08:34:25

Australia have called up left-arm quick Mitchell Starc into their squad for Tuesday's fifth and final one-day international against England at Old Trafford.

The 22-year-old, already in England where he has been performing well for county side Yorkshire, was drafted in after both fast bowler Brett Lee and seam bowling all-rounder Shane Watson suffered calf injuries in a thumping eight wicket-loss at the Riverside.

Watson bowled just one over before leaving the field while Lee went off two balls into his second spell.

Australia's latest heavy defeat gave England a series-winning 3-0 lead after Wednesday's match in Birmingham was washed out without a ball bowled.

"We have called up Mitchell Starc as cover because we are still assessing the two injured players," an Australia team spokesman said.

Prior to Saturday's match, Australia had seen teenage quick Pat Cummins return home early from the tour with a side strain while left-arm quick Mitchell Johnson did not play at the Riverside because of soreness in his right foot.

Starc, who is due to join up with Australia after playing for Yorkshire in a domestic Twenty20 match on Sunday, has taken nine wickets in his seven one-day internationals at an average of just over 30 apiece.

His last ODI appearance was against India in Brisbane in February but he played the last of his four Tests to date against the West Indies in Roseau in April, where he took two wickets for 29 runs in the first innings.

In the current one-day series against England, Australia's bowlers have managed a mere 11 wickets between them.

"I'd like to see more of their (England's) batting order, that's for sure," said Australia captain Michael Clarke after Saturday's latest defeat.

"We can't get through the top three or four at the moment. We haven't taken wickets - Clint McKay's been really our only wicket-taker. I don't care what form of the game it is, you've got to get blokes out.

"If you want to slow the scoring you take wickets - that's always been my attitude in any form of the game," he added.

"It's been very disappointing that we haven't been able to bowl England out. Credit to them - they've used the conditions better, bowled very consistent areas to build up pressure."

AFP

Tags: sport, cricket, australia

First posted July 09, 2012 08:34:25

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Starc deported ahead of county debut

Updated May 09, 2012 12:13:52

Australia left-arm quick Mitchell Starc has been deported from Britain, with visa problems preventing him from making his debut for English county Yorkshire.

Yorkshire, coached by former Australia fast bowler Jason Gillespie, is blaming Cricket Australia officials for problems with Starc's paperwork.

The 22-year-old Starc, who arrived at Heathrow Airport last weekend and was initially cleared to remain, will not now make his Yorkshire debut in their County Championship Second Division match against Gloucestershire at Bristol on Wednesday.

But the bowler himself was confident of being able to return to England in time for next week's match against Yorkshire.

"Well that's a first! Being deported from England...surely nothing else can go wrong can it?!?!," Starc wrote on his Twitter account on Tuesday.

"Visa issue. Incorrect communication from Aus. Will be straight back to UK ASAP once sorted. In time for next Yorkshireccc game.

"The Yorkshireccc have been brilliant to me...disappointed I won't get to play tomorrow but good luck to the lads!"

A Yorkshire spokesman said earlier Tuesday: "There was an error with the initial paperwork which the club are trying to sort out.

"We hope to have it completed by this afternoon. If not it is unlikely Starc will be able to play tomorrow and may have to return back to Australia."

Starc was due to begin an initial five-week deal to help offset the controversial departure of seamer Ajmal Shahzad, who joined county champions Lancashire, Yorkshire's arch cross-border rivals, on loan until the end of the season after being controversially released by Headingley officials last week.

The departure of the 26-year-old Shahzad, who has played one Test and 11 one-day internationals for England, was a shock as he had taken eight wickets in three first-class matches at an average of 26.25 for Yorkshire this season.

But Yorkshire chairman Colin Graves said Shahzad had to go after refusing to follow Gillespie's instructions.

"Jason's come in with a totally new regime and the player's still not happy so we can't keep changing the backroom and all the rest of it," he said.

"Our guys wanted a disciplined situation like England do when they're playing now and it works very well," added Graves.

"He (Shahzad) didn't see that. He wanted to have the opportunity to be his own man, bang it in when he wants to bang it in and bowl bouncers when he wants to bowl bouncers.

"The captain, the coach and everybody else didn't want that situation, especially at this time of year where we've got seaming wickets and all the rest of it - it's disciplined bowling that counts.

"We've put a lot of effort and a lot of resource into Ajmal and we thought he'd be here for the rest of his career.

"We're sad to see him go but at the end of the day, there's no point in keeping him here if he's unhappy."

AFP

Tags: cricket, sport, australia, england, united-kingdom

First posted May 09, 2012 06:47:04

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Starc in but no Watson for BBL final

Updated January 25, 2012 17:21:39

Left-arm quick Mitchell Starc will play for Sydney Sixers in Saturday's Big Bash League final against the Perth Scorchers at the WACA ground but all-rounder Shane Watson's hopes of making an injury comeback are over.

Starc will join his team-mates in Perth on Friday after being released from his 12th man duties with Australia at the fourth Test in Adelaide.

Watson was hoping to make his return from the hamstring and calf injuries that have ruined his summer but the Sixers have confirmed he will not play.

All-rounder Moises Henriques said the 21-year-old's inclusion would be a big boost after he ripped through the Scorchers' top order at the SCG last week.

"Mitchell's stature now and the form he's been in, the way he's been bowling, it's a massive credit for us to have him back," he said.

"There's probably a couple of guys that are hoping they don't have to face him."

Organisers have announced the start will be delayed by 30 minutes to 5:00pm (AWST) with temperatures of 42 degrees Celsius forecast.

But Henriques feels his team-mates' experiences in India with New South Wales at September's Champions League will stand them in good stead in making the adjustment from cool and damp Sydney to red-hot Perth.

"It was quite hot over there in Chennai," Henriques said.

"It's three hours worth of cricket. If we have to sweat it out for a while I'm sure we can all cope with that."

Scorchers batsman Simon Katich agreed.

"[I've] played enough cricket over the years to know what it's like to play over here in the heat," he said.

"We've played a number of games here throughout the tournament obviously and played well at home and the crowd has been fantastic so that's a big plus for us.

"Hopefully we can put them under some pressure, particularly in the field."

The passionate Scorchers fans certainly showed they will not be put off by the extreme heat either, selling out tickets to the final just 16 minutes after they were released to the public on Wednesday morning.

The Sixers head to Perth on Thursday and will have a training run at the WACA on Friday afternoon.

AAP/ABC

Tags: sport, cricket, twenty20, perth-6000, wa, australia

First posted January 25, 2012 16:51:59

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Starc left out for Adelaide Test

Updated January 23, 2012 22:02:19

Australia's new rotation policy faced its first major test on Monday and was dismissed as quickly as India's openers have been throughout this summer.

Under the policy announced two weeks ago, hard-working duo Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus should have been prime candidates for 12th-man duties for Tuesday's fourth Test in Adelaide.

But skipper and selector Michael Clarke wanted his best eleven on the paddock and his wish has been granted.

Young quick Mitchell Starc was handed the role of drinks waiter with off-spinner Nathan Lyon coming back into the team alongside the pace trio of Siddle, Hilfenhaus and Ryan Harris.

Clarke, whose men hold a 3-0 advantage in the four-match series, says he is determined to lift his fourth-placed side back to the top ranking.

"In my opinion it was about picking the best eleven to win the Test," Clarke told a news conference.

"I have said that from the start, that we want to win every Test match that we play and this series is no different.

"I guess winning the last two Test matches in less than five days has helped everyone recover as well so all the guys are fighting fit and ready to go."

After Australia's four-man pace attack ran through India's batting line-up twice in two-and-a-half days on the bouncy Perth pitch in the third Test, Clarke is expecting a flat batting track in Adelaide and the match is likely to last five days.

And while Lyon can expect to get plenty of work, Clarke says reverse swing will be a major factor with variable bounce coming into play late in the game.

"We know these conditions are probably going to suit India a lot more than where we have come from in Perth so we are going to have to be at our best to beat them," Clarke said.

Clarke said Lyon, with a return of just 2 for 180 so far in the series, should not be expected to suddenly be the team's go-to man in the second half of the match on a wearing pitch.

"I definitely have a lot of confidence in 'Lyno'. I would hate to put that sort of expectation on him," Clarke said.

It will be Lyon's tenth Test and first at his home ground, where he's a former groundsman.

India is yet to name a team although Wriddhiman Saha will replace wicketkeeper/batsman and skipper MS Dhoni who has been suspended for one match for his side's slow over-rate in Perth.

Acting captain Virender Sehwag said the tourists were considering playing two spinners, Ravi Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha, in the Adelaide Test.

AAP

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First posted January 23, 2012 12:10:17

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Starc preparing to be unlucky quick

Updated January 17, 2012 21:05:00

It is the simple equation which has got the pace quartet that delivered a crushing third Test victory for Australia looking over their shoulders.

Despite Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Ben Hilfenhaus and Ryan Harris demolishing India at the WACA Ground inside three days last week, one of the quicks appears certain to miss out at the Adelaide Oval next week.

Chairman of selectors John Inverarity all but confirmed off-spinner Nathan Lyon will return to the starting XI when he named an unchanged squad of 12 for the fourth Test on Tuesday.

Lyon's inclusion would leave left-arm quick Starc as the man most likely to have to drop out despite his four wickets and impressive bowling in Perth.

It seems the only way Starc would keep his place is if rumours Siddle is set to be rested after playing eight straight Tests prove true.

But despite the frustration of having his spot under threat following the best display of his three-Test career, Starc will head to Adelaide ready to fight for a spot.

"I guess you could say disappointing," Starc said about the possibility of being left out.

"They're obviously not going to go in with four quicks to Adelaide so Nathan Lyon will come back in.

"With the four of us there I can't see them dropping any of the other three, they're in great form."

There's a lot of talk about the rotation policy so I'm just going to go out there and prepare as though I was going to play, as I always do, and if I get the chance then I'm ready to go."

Inverarity delivered a double blow when he announced the squad, suggesting there may be little need to rest Siddle after he quickly delivered victory in Perth.

Starc said missing out would be tough but he would be happy if it means delivering a 4-0 series whitewash just over a year after last summer's Ashes debacle.

"It'd be great for our group," he said.

"To beat the world number two team 4-0 on home soil would be a great start to what we've spoken about, becoming the world number one again."

Starc has been released from his Test duties to take part in Wednesday's Big Bash League contest between the Sydney Sixers and Perth Scorchers at the SCG.

Joining Starc in the Sixers team will be under-fire wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, while struggling top-order batsman Shaun Marsh is set to line-up for the Scorchers.

Running out of chances

Marsh said the Twenty20 clash could be the most important of his career after making scores of 0, 3, 0 and 11 so far against India this summer.

"At the end of the day my job is to score runs and I haven't been doing that in the first three Test matches," Marsh said at Perth airport on Tuesday.

"There's always pressure, but that's part and parcel of playing international cricket.

"I've just got to try to turn it around.

"You don't get too many chances to play Test cricket so I know my chances are running out.

"I see it as a good challenge for me.

"I've performed well (at Test level) before, so I know that I can do it. I've just got to get out there and get some runs."

Both Marsh and Haddin will play in Adelaide regardless of how they perform on Wednesday night and Starc believes 34-year-old Haddin is not playing as badly as some might think.

"Brad's been in pretty good spirits. There's been a lot of talk in the press and whatever but I reckon he's still gloving the ball pretty well and he'll get his chance with the bat," Starc said.

"He obviously didn't get much of a chance in the last couple of Tests with the runs coming at the top of the list. I'm sure he'll be going out there to get some runs and take some momentum into the next Test."

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, adelaide-5000, sa, australia

First posted January 17, 2012 19:20:39

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Starc leads Sixers to win

Updated January 08, 2012 23:13:21

Mitchell Starc led Sydney Sixers to victory over the Thunder in Sunday night's rain-affected Big Bash League cross-town derby at the Olympic stadium.

The Australian Test squad member took 3 for 17 from two-and-a-half overs before an uninterrupted rainstorm forced an end to the match and gave the Sixers a 17-run victory via the Duckworth-Lewis method.

On an evening of high drama, the Sixers recovered from 5 for 47 to post a total of 7 for 117 from 16 overs thanks to Ben Rohrer (38 from 24 balls) and Peter Nevill (24 not out).

In what was a 16-over affair, due to an initial 30-minute rain delay shortly after play started, it was a competitive total.

The Duckworth-Lewis method added another run, setting the Thunder 119 to win, and when the match was called off after just 5.3 overs that tally proved more than enough.

Brett Lee was impressive in claiming the scalp of Chris Gayle (0), but it was Starc who gave national selectors a reminder of his wares when he busted the game open with a fiery spell.

Starc trapped Daniel Smith lbw, then rattled the stumps of Ben Dunk with a stunning delivery.

The left-armer, who was dropped for the Boxing Day Test, but has been recalled to the Australian squad for the WACA ground Test, would have had three wickets from his second over if not for third umpire Gerard Abood.

Jason Floros was ajudged caught behind, only for Abood to controversially reverse the original decision when Floros was almost off the ground.

It mattered little, with Starc clean bowling Floros in his next over to reduce the Thunder to 4 for 29.

The rain returned after that wicket, and there was no more play possible.

A crowd of 31,262 went home disappointed, with Cricket Australia again given a timely reminder of the weather-related challenges facing the BBL.

Starc does not feel his man-of-the-match performance will have any bearing on whether he plays the third Test against India, which starts on Friday.

"For me to get the chance to go over to Perth and push my claims in the nets through the next few days - to try and get a spot in the final XI in Perth - is probably more important than three wickets here," he said.

"It's always important for the team, but on a personal note it's a bit different with the red ball."

The 21-year-old said he was hopeful of a Test recall.

"I'm feeling great. I haven't had the chance to play so much cricket over the past couple of weeks. There's been a lot of net sessions and that sort of thing.

"I haven't played too much there (at the WACA), but with the extra pace and bounce - especially against the Indians - I won't be turning it down if I get the chance to have a go."

Starc received a vote of confidence from Thunder skipper Smith.

"I've played cricket with Starcy for a long time and that's as good as I've seen him bowl," Smith said.

"It (his bowling) was Test-quality standard."

AAP

Tags: twenty20, cricket, sport, sydney-2000, nsw, australia

First posted January 08, 2012 22:16:27

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Starc eyes Johnson spot for Aussies

Updated December 06, 2011 20:15:41

Paceman Mitchell Starc knows full well he will bowl for the chance to replace fellow left-armer Mitchell Johnson longer-term when the second Test against New Zealand gets underway at Bellerive Oval on Friday.

Starc's Test debut in Brisbane was relegated to a sideshow by a man-of-the-match performance from James Pattinson, also in his first game, but the variety the New South Welshman provides could work in his favour when selectors look to find room for boom teenager Pat Cummins.

Starc, who took 2 for 90 and 0 for 33 at the Gabba, has been considered under most pressure to hold his spot when Cummins recovers from a heel injury in all likelihood for the Boxing Day Test against India.

The experienced Peter Siddle is also in the spotlight but he was Australia's spearhead in the nine-wicket win over the Black Caps.

With Johnson out for the summer following foot surgery, and another leftie Doug Bollinger also struggling, the door is open for Starc.

"You can say that," he told reporters as the Australian team arrived in Hobart on Tuesday.

"Obviously Mitch (Johnson) is out for a little bit of time and Dougy's still coming back from injury so, as a left-armer, there's that bit of variety.

"It does open a door for me, I guess, and hopefully I can take that opportunity.

Starc is among a group of talented - and fast - young Australian bowlers who have stood up in consecutive Test wins over South Africa and the Kiwis.

Cummins took 6 for 79 on debut in the second innings to engineer a stunning win over the Proteas in Johannesburg last month while Pattinson performed an equally amazing feat at the Gabba with 5 for 27.

Johnson, Bollinger (ankle) and Queenslander Ryan Harris (hip) may be sidelined, but Australia's stocks still look plentiful, with the likes of Blues pair Josh Hazlewood and Trent Copeland waiting in the wings.

Despite the pressure, Starc is not viewing the Hobart Test as a bowl-off for the blockbuster four-game series against India beginning at the MCG.

"We're not really thinking about that," he said.

"We're just going out there to win the game for Australia so we'll sit down again and have a look at the wicket and assess the Kiwis and our plans for them again.

"It's another Test match and a clean slate.

"We had our plans (bowling) to the Kiwis after the Australia A game and we found out our plans were pretty good and Jimmy (Pattinson) executed them probably the best out of us.

"Obviously guys will be coming back from injury at some point so I think I'm just going to prepare to play every game.

"If I don't get picked, I don't get picked, but if I get picked I'm ready to play."

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, hobart-7000, tas, australia

First posted December 06, 2011 20:13:15

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