Mitchell Starc has stated that being omitted, particularly in England, is “not something new” for him, but he is eager to play in the second Ashes Test against England at Lord’s. The selection panel preferred in-form Scott Boland over the left-arm fast bowler at Edgbaston last week, but two weeks into the Ashes series and on what is anticipated to be a more bowler-friendly surface in London, Starc has been making a strong case for selection.
“I’m used to it now coming to England. It’s a squad mentality, much the same as last time,” Starc said about his non-selection 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 said that he feels more in cadence than he did last week, and that he needs more game time.
“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.”
Starc, who witnessed England’s all-out strategy from the sidelines last week, is anticipated to be the problem-solver on the field on Wednesday, but he is unconcerned about England’s latest strategy.
“They have brought an overly aggressive head space to Test cricket,” Starc opined. “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.”
