Starc a near certainty for final Test
Fast bowler Mitchell Starc is likely to be named in Australia's XI for the fifth and final Ashes Test, which will get underway at The Oval in London on Wednesday.
Fast bowler Mitchell Starc is likely to be named in Australia's XI for the fifth and final Ashes Test, which will get underway at The Oval on Wednesday.
Starc played in the first and third match, but not the second nor fifth, as the team management continued to manage the seamer's workload. This trend, epitomised during the tour of India earlier this year too, is expected to continue in London.
"It would be nice to get a few games back-to-back and get that rhythm. To have a chance at that consistency that everyone talks about would be good – 'you've got to be more consistent,' – well it's a bit hard when you play one game and you're dropped," said Starc.
The left-armer impressed during the weekend's tour fixture against the England Lions at the County Ground in Northamptonshire, testing centurion Gary Ballance with some probing spells and clinching the key wicket of half-centurion Moeen Ali.
"I was very happy with how it came out. What we've spoken about over the last few weeks about where we want to bowl and plans and that sort of thing, I was happy with how we practiced those with James Faulkner and I especially," he added.
The 23-year-old will probably replace right-armer Ryan Harris for the closing match of a fix-fixture series the hosts lead three-nil. Harris enjoyed a telling second-innings seven-for in Durham, but is set to be rested.
"For me it's making the most of that new ball. I'm pretty happy with where my reverse swing bowling is and how much I am getting the ball to swing but I guess my goal is doing more damage with the new ball and being more consistent when the ball isn't doing anything at all. I know where I need to get better and it's just a matter of doing it," concluded Starc.
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