Mitchell Starc Says Australia Will be Ready With Four Pacers in Ashes
Sep 7, 2017 at 2:53 PM
Aussie speedster Mitchell Starc has warned the English side that the Aussies will be rearing to go in the upcoming Ashes scheduled to be held later in the year with four quick bowlers as they attempt to bring the urn back. When asked during Cricket NSW’s season launch Starc said: “Four, we’ll be right.”
Starc will be recovering from a foot injury and is expected to play at least 3 Sheffield Shield games in as a part of the preparation for the first Ashes Test at the Gabba starting on November 23. Meanwhile another speedster Josh Hazlewood will get two and half months to get fit after he picked up a side strain during the first Test against Bangladesh while James Pattinson has been rested from the tour to allow him to recover in time for the Ashes.
The only fit member of this group is Pat Cummins, and the speedster led the pace attack during the 2nd Test against Bangladesh. “He’s matured, his body’s hardened up a bit, everybody forgets how young he is because he started so young,” Starc said.
“It’s fantastic to see him putting a few games together in a row and we all know what he can do, he can swing it both ways, he bowls fast, he can bat as well.He’s an exciting cricketer. If we can keep him on the park for a long time I think he’s going to do amazing things for Australian cricket.”
It will be a major boost for the Aussies with four pacers raring to go for the Ashes. The Aussies won the last Ashes in Australia by a 5-0 margin though it was five years ago. Starc feels that home advantage will keep the Aussies in good stead.
“It’s obviously very different playing in home conditions compared to the subcontinent. It’s going to be completely different being a home Ashes series in conditions we know really well,” Starc said.
“I’ve not played one at home I’m really looking forward to it. I know the rest of the group are.The girls have got the Ashes series first, hopefully they’ve knocked England over and we can just follow on from that and make it two Ashes wins for Australia in the summer.”
Starc last played for the national team in the Champions Trophy where he had injured his foot. He last played a Test against India in March.
“It’s nice to be back bowling, it’s been fantastic to be back with the [NSW] Blues boys and training with the guys. I haven’t always had the chance to in the last couple of years,” Starc said.
“The last few times I’ve been injured, I’ve been rushed back too early. The same thing happened in the Champions Trophy.
“To have a nice even lead-in to this summer’s been good. It has been a silver lining to spend a lot of time in the gym and not rush back into bowling and make sure I haven’t got any niggles leading into obviously a very important summer.”