Mitchell Starc reveals Australian blueprint to unsettle Eoin Morgan

Australia has the perfect plan to take the wind out of England’s sails once again, with pace spearhead Mitchell Starc on the verge of a stunning World Cup record — and with the perfect plan to carry it out.

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Mitchell Starc is unsure whether England captain Eoin Morgan is scared of him but is certain the England captain can be bounced out of Thursday’s World Cup semi-final.

Starc said Australia uncovered the “blueprint” to beat England when he and fellow left-armer Jason Behrendorff shared nine wickets in last month’s clinical 64-run win at Lord’s.

Morgan — who was softened up by a Starc thunderbolt and then dismissed by him for just four runs — bristled when told that Kevin Pietersen said he was petrified of facing Australia’s World Cup pace ace after that match.

“I don’t know. Is he (scared)?” Starc said.

“You’d have to ask him. (But) the short ball has worked a fair bit to a lot of people in the World Cup, so it’s definitely a plan for guys who have got a bit of extra pace.

“The slower bouncer as well. We’ll see if we can get Eoin one way or another again.”

Mitchell Starc knocked over Eoin Morgan cheaply last month. Picture: Getty

Five of Morgan’s 12 ducks recorded batting for England have come against Australia and, while he has three tons against the World Cup kings, the last of those came more than four years ago.

Starc needs just one wicket against England to beat Glenn McGrath’s record of 26 wickets in a World Cup, having equalled the feat with 2/57 in the shock loss to South Africa.

Starc has struck in all 17 World Cup games he has played.

The England captain stepping to square leg when Starc bowled his first delivery to him made me think England could have a little problem over the next week or so.
I hope not, but I’ve not seen a captain show such a weakness for a while...

— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) June 25, 2019

While Australia hasn’t played at Edgbaston this tournament, Starc said they had studied the pitch on television in the four World Cup games hosted in Birmingham.

A fresh wicket will be used on Thursday as swing twins Starc and Behrendorff look to rip apart England’s top order again, although it has since been strengthened by the return of opener Jason Roy.

Since 2017 Roy averages 106.4 runs against Australia once he passes 20.

“The way we played England last time is a great blueprint moving forward,” Starc said.

“Against India we didn’t take early wickets and they were able to build an innings and have wickets in the shed and explode at the end.

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Eoin Morgan was left with plenty of headaches after the Australian defeat. Picture: Getty

“That’s what we’ve looked to improve on since.

“We were off (against South Africa), but we’re still in a World Cup semi-final. It’s no mean feat, especially how a few people around the world were talking about this team three or four months ago

“It’s something to be really proud of.”

Spinner Nathan Lyon said it was “England’s World Cup to lose” as the host nation and No.1 team.

“It’s all on them, it’s theirs to lose if you ask me,” Lyon said.

“We’ve got nothing to lose. We’ve only got stuff to gain. I honestly feel like there is a very special thing around the corner for us.”

Australia would’ve played New Zealand back at Manchester on Tuesday night if it beat South Africa but Starc was unfazed by the tougher path to glory.

“To win a World Cup you have to play everyone. Whether we play (England) in a semi-final or a final, or India in a final, you’ve got to beat the good teams to win World Cups,” he said.

Originally published as Mitchell Starc reveals Australian blueprint to unsettle Eoin Morgan