Starc anticipates intriguing end

Australia

Fast bowler Mitchell Starc is looking forward to a busy end to the third Ashes Test, despite the threat of rain at Old Trafford in Manchester on Sunday and Monday.

Fast bowler Mitchell Starc is looking forward to a busy end to the third Ashes Test, despite the threat of rain at Old Trafford in Manchester on Sunday and Monday.

Starc was key to Saturday's proceedings, with figures of three for 75 reducing England to 294 for seven – still 33 runs shy of avoiding a potential follow-on and a further 200 short of matching Australia's 527 for seven declared.

Host batsman Kevin Pietersen, meanwhile, welcomed the 23rd century of his career en rout to a superb 113. While Pietersen suggested the pitch is likely to remain "true", left-armer Starc anticipated an increasing role for spinner Nathan Lyon.

"I think things are going to happen pretty quickly on the last two days. It's showing signs of more and more turn and it's only going to turn more heading into the end of the Test," he said.

"Things are going to happen quickly in the third and fourth innings but there's a few wickets to get yet, but we're up for the challenge."

Wicketkeeper-batsman Matt Prior and all-rounder Stuart Broad will resume on six not out and nine not out respectively on Sunday.

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