Michael Vaughan reveals why selectors must resist picking Starc for first Ashes Test
Former England captain Michael Vaughan has declared that Mitchell Starc can’t play the first Test of the Ashes, saying Australian selectors must be “ruthless” with their big three in England.
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Former England captain Michael Vaughan has declared that Mitchell Starc can’t play the first Test of the Ashes and must only be chosen on a strict horses for courses basis this winter.
Vaughan says Australian selectors must be “ruthless” with their big three in England and have the courage to chop and change the attack regardless of form and reputation.
Under-pressure spearhead Starc ripped in at Australia’s most intense training session of the summer yesterday in Canberra, with Joe Burns forced to desperately protect himself from a vicious short ball and Nathan Lyon declaring the left-armer even got the ball to reverse in the nets.
The first Ashes Test will be staged at the seaming Edgbaston wicket in Birmingham on August 1, and Vaughan says he’d be unleashing the likes of Jhye Richardson, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle or Dan Worrall in place of Starc for that match and the Test at Headingley in Leeds.
Back in 2015, Starc took 2-104 across two innings in Birmingham, while the similarly skilled Mitchell Johnson has never taken more than two wickets a match in his two appearances at Edgbaston.
Vaughan said he would lock Starc in for the three Tests at dry-wicket venues Lord’s, Old Trafford and The Oval, but says history shows that Australia should look at alternative options when the ball seams.
“I’ll say this now, I don’t see Starc’s style of bowling suiting Edgbaston,” said Vaughan, who will again lead Fox Cricket’s live and no-ad coverage of the second Test against Sri Lanka on Friday from 9.30am.
“Hit the pitch, pace bowling at Edgbaston, it’s a pudding. It just sinks in (to the pitch).
“You want pitch-it-up, skilful, consistent bowling at Edgbaston. You go back all the years they’re the kind of bowlers that have had success.
“I might be proven wrong in a few months’ time but I’d be pencilling in Mitchell Starc for Lord’s, Old Trafford, The Oval … but potentially at Edgbaston and Headingley which are more traditional seam bowlers pitches, you go for the likes of Richardson, Siddle, maybe Worrall or Pattinson.”
Vaughan listed Pat Cummins alongside England ace Jimmy Anderson, India destroyer Jasprit Bumrah and South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada as one of the four best quicks in the world and someone that is a lock in every Australian attack if fit.
Anderson is the one reason why England will start favourites, and should he pick up a niggle or Australia find a way to contain him – Vaughan says the ledger will instantly be squared up.
But other than Cummins, Vaughan says Australia must be open to a certain flexibility with their attack that they haven’t braved in previous failed campaigns.
The England great said the importance placed on swing bowling in the UK was a myth, and that it was seam that’s the true weapon.
“That’s where the Aussies will have to be smart and ruthless in a way, because they might have to drop one or two of their diehards (for example Starc and Josh Hazlewood) over the past two or three years,” said Vaughan.
“It’s going to be the skill of the management to get that right.
“They’ve got to understand that England over five Test matches sometimes is like playing in five different countries.
“It’ll be the cleverness and the tactical nous of the management in picking the right bowlers for the different wickets.
“Jhye Richardson is going to be a gem. And if James Pattinson finds fitness he has to be there and could play two or three games. Siddle certainly should be around that party and I like the look of this kid, Worrall.
“You’ve got to be careful in England that you don’t just think it’s swing. Swing is the easiest aspect to face in England. It’s seam that you need.
“You need bowlers who can seam the ball either way – they’re the bowlers who have had the most success like Vernon Philander, Mohammad Abbas, Bumrah and Jimmy.
“You need skilful seam bowlers in England not floaty swing bowlers.”
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Originally published as Michael Vaughan reveals why selectors must resist picking Starc for first Ashes Test
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