Shane Warne reignites feud with Mitchell Starc with bold Ashes call

Shane Warne has once again taken aim at Mitchell Starc, calling for the paceman to be dropped from Australia’s side for the Ashes.

Shane Warne wants Mitchell Starc dropped for the Ashes.

Cricket legend Shane Warne has again criticised Mitchell Starc’s form and called for him to be dropped from Australia’s side for the Ashes.

Starc has had an underwhelming 12 months in the national side by his standards, going back to last summer’s Test series against India, in which he only snared 11 wickets in four matches at an average of 40.72.

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The left-arm paceman’s sub-par form in national colours continued at the recent T20 World Cup, where he took nine wickets at 27.55 and leaked runs — notably in the final against New Zealand, where he went 0/60 off his four overs.

Warne has long been a critic of Starc, famously taking aim at the quick’s body language several years ago and just earlier this month, saying he’s “nowhere” as he expressed concerns about Australia’s squad for the Ashes.

Now the spin king has doubled down, suggesting Starc should be left out of the team for the Ashes in favour of in-form West Australian Jhye Richardson, while also declaring off-spinner Nathan Lyon’s spot is under pressure after a poor showing against India.

“He (Lyon) had a poor summer last year, so did Mitchell Starc,” Warne said.

“He (Starc) needs to find a bit of rhythm and some form.

Warnie doesn’t want Mitchell Starc in Australia’s team for the first Ashes Test. (Photo by Patrick HAMILTON / AFP)

“He had a really poor World Cup. He’s just not bowling well enough.

“It’s too important at the Gabba. I’m all for Jhye Richardson (replacing Starc in the team).”

Starc, 31, has taken 255 wickets at an average of 27.57 across 61 Tests for Australia.

Warne, who took 708 Test wickets for Australia, said he hoped fellow leg-spinner Mitch Swepson puts some heat on Lyon for the spinner’s spot.

“I hope Mitch Swepson, as a leg-spinner, puts some pressure on Nathan Lyon,” he said.

Warne would also like to see wicketkeeper Josh Inglis given his debut over Alex Carey, who is the frontrunner to take over the gloves following Tim Paine’s decision to step aside from cricket for the foreseeable future.

“I just think Josh Inglis is ready,” he said.

“He’s coming off form with three first-class hundreds last year.”

The spin king is never short of an opinion. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

With the first Test at the Gabba starting on December 8 barely a week away, there appears to be three spots in Australia’s XI still up for grabs.

On top of the Starc-Richardson and Carey-Inglis duels, one of Usman Khawaja or Travis Head seem set to take the No. 5 batting position.

But the selectors face a tough task to decide the final line-up after both Khawaja and Head produced very solid performances in their Sheffield Shield match-up last week.

And they may have to go off gut feel, with wild weather to likely force a three-day practice match between the Australia and Australia A squads scheduled for this week to be cancelled.