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Used to being dropped, won't be the last time: Mitchell Starc

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Last updated on 27 Jun 2023 | 03:40 AM
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Used to being dropped, won't be the last time: Mitchell Starc

After missing out on the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston, the left-arm pacer is expected to play a part in the second game at Lord's

Despite featuring in the World Test Championship (WTC) final against India, Australia pacer Mitchell Starc was dropped from the first Ashes Test against England at Edgbaston. Australia preferred to have Scott Boland ahead of the left-arm quick and with Josh Hazlewood returning from injury, there was no place in the XI for Starc.

With the second Test at Lord's set to be more on the bowling-friendly side, there are murmurs that Starc could indeed feature in the XI. Starc reckons while being dropped is nothing new for him, he will be ready when he is once again called-up into the XI.

"I'm used to it now coming to England. It's a squad mentality, much the same as last time," Starc said about being dropped for the Ashes opener. 

"I have been around long enough, been dropped enough. Probably been dropped the most in this squad so it is not something new for me. It probably won't be the last time either.

"In terms of the team, I haven't got any indication either way [about selection for Lord's]. Your guess is as good as mine until the selectors decide.

"I have different skills that fit into this bowling group so if and when I get a turn, I'll be ready to go. If not this week, then I'll get ready for Headingley."

Starc conceded over five an over in both innings in the WTC final at The Oval, ahead of the Ashes. He feels he is in much better rhythm now having worked on it over the last couple of weeks. "I probably came into that game [Edgbaston] feeling pretty good, but my rhythm wasn't quite there," Starc said. 

"So it's been a nice couple of weeks of work now to work back into that rhythm.

"I think we were all probably better for the run after that Test final at The Oval and I certainly feel less clunky now than I did through the game. So yeah, hopefully that results in some good stuff if and when I play. It's all in good order. It's just about getting some time in the middle when my chance comes."

Despite England's aggressive approach, Starc feels that Australia should continue to play to their strengths and not try to get carried away by their opponent's style.

"They have brought an overly aggressive head space to Test cricket," Starc reckons. 

"The way they are approaching it, there is going to be a reaction when you are either bowling or facing that. I think that is natural but we will stick to our guns and I am sure they will as well.

"Just because they are scoring at a higher rate or trying to score at a higher rate doesn't mean you go to one-day cricket. There are plenty of ways to skin a cat as we saw last week in the way they approached it as opposed to the way we did.

"We've played enough against England in white-ball cricket to know they can all play that sort of thing. I have certainly seen Joe [Root] enough to know he can play those [ramp] shots.

"They are going to take the game on now in Test cricket as they have done for the last 12 months. That is their approach and we will stick to the way we want to approach our Test cricket.

"Hopefully come the end of the series we are sitting back with more wins than them."

Australia lead the five-match Ashes Test series 1-0, after a thrilling two-wicket victory in the first Test at Edgbaston. The two sides clash again at Lord's for the second Test, starting Wednesday (June 28).

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