Australia kick-started their Ashes 2023 campaign on a high note, clinching a thrilling victory over England by two wickets at Edgbaston. However, the road to triumph was paved with tough decisions, as captain Pat Cummins made the bold call of dropping their star seamer Mitchell Starc to accommodate the returning Josh Hazlewood. Hazlewood, having recovered from an injury, missed the World Test Championship 2023 final against India, where Scott Boland filled his shoes admirably and emerged as Australia’s standout bowler.
Starc, familiar with the challenges of playing in England, took his exclusion from the opening game in stride, acknowledging the squad mentality and his own experience of being dropped before. Expressing his thoughts on the matter, Starc emphasized, “It’s never fun, everyone wants to play. I’m used to it now coming to England. It’s a squad mentality, much the same as last time. Been around long enough, been dropped enough. Probably dropped the most in this squad. Not something new to me, won’t be the last time, either” (ESPNCricinfo).
During the 2019 Ashes in England, Starc struggled to find his place within the team’s combination, featuring in just one game at Old Trafford throughout the series. However, given Boland’s lackluster performance in the first Test, Starc may have an opportunity to reclaim his spot in the upcoming second Test at Lord’s, commencing on Wednesday, June 28. The presence of grass covering on the pitch on Day 1 might tilt the scales in Boland’s favor, but there remains a chance for Starc to secure a position if the team management decides to rest the recently recovered Hazlewood.
It is worth noting that Starc was part of Australia’s squad for the WTC final 2023, held prior to the Ashes at the Oval. However, he appeared out of rhythm during the Test, managing to take four wickets while conceding runs at a rate of over five per over. Reflecting on the game, Starc admitted that although he entered feeling positive, his rhythm deserted him during the course of play. “I came into that game feeling pretty good, but my rhythm wasn’t quite there. It’s been a good couple of weeks of work to get back into that rhythm. We were all better for the run after that Test final at The Oval, and I certainly feel less clunky than I did throughout the game,” Starc explained.
As Australia basks in the glory of a 1-0 lead in the series, the impending second Test at Lord’s poses an intriguing dilemma. The pitch is expected to offer more pace and bounce compared to the conditions witnessed in Birmingham. This could entice Australia to consider Starc, given his impressive track record at the venue in One Day Internationals. During the 2019 World Cup, the 33-year-old claimed nine wickets across two matches against England and New Zealand, leaving a lasting impression at Lord’s.
The upcoming Test at Lord’s holds pivotal significance for Mitchell Starc as he eagerly awaits a potential opportunity to contribute to Australia’s winning momentum. With the pitch dynamics likely to favor his strengths, the decision rests with the team management to determine whether the winning combination should be altered. As the Ashes saga unfolds, all eyes will be on Starc and the verdict that awaits him at the historic Lord’s cricket ground.
