Mitchell Starc expected to feature in first T20 against India, in no doubt for first Test

With superstar batsman David Warner on the sidelines Australia can’t afford another star to miss an extended part of the summer.

Mitchell Starc. Picture: Getty Images

Mitchell Starc is in no doubt for the first Test match, but the “niggle” which kept him out of Wednesday’s ODI is a sign that Australia’s fast bowling bullpen will be vital this summer.

Australia’s bowlers are bracing for an unprecedented campaign where everything is different: from their individual preparations right down to the tightly contested nature of the COVID-19 hit schedule.

James Pattinson, Michael Neser and Sean Abbott are waiting in the wings in Australia’s Test squad, and there is every chance they may be called upon in the summer like no other, as Abbott was in Wednesday night’s ODI.

Starc (back and ribs) is expected to play in Friday’s first Twenty20 international in Canberra which suggests his withdrawal from Wednesday’s ODI was a timely chance to rest up the big quick for a game where it made sense to add a second spinner to the XI anyway.

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Mitchell Starc is expected to play in Friday’s T20. Picture: Getty Images

But the fact Starc (the only top choice fast bowler who didn’t go to the IPL) is already feeling the effects of a niggle is a warning about how carefully selectors will have to manage their fast bowling arsenal this summer.

Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins are clearly Australia’s first-choice Test match attack, but a squad mentality may be required to beat India in the Tests.

Hazlewood and Cummins will not have had any first-class match preparation under their belts before the first Test on December 17, and even for the world’s best – that is not an ideal lead in to a Test summer.

The strain of Test match cricket on the body cannot be prepared for with a white ball diet, and neither have played a Test since January.

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It will be hard going for Australia to maintain the same attack for all four Tests unless they’re steamrolling India inside three days.

Not to mention the fact in Sydney they’ll have to seriously consider debuting leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson and all-rounder Cameron Green for the conditions.

Starc has played two Sheffield Shield matches, but has still had an unusual few months spent in and out of quarantine and bubbles, and his form wasn’t right in the first two ODIs.

Shane Warne praised Abbott’s skills as a Test-ready player if required this summer.

“He always sums up the situation and what ball to bowl,” said Warne on Fox Cricket.

“He bowls the right ball at the right time.”

It could be a long summer for the Aussie bowlers. Picture: AFP Photo

HOW CLOSE WAS BURNS TO BEING DROPPED

One awkward tumble was all it took for Joe Burns to turn from Test match floater, to Australian anchorman.

Unless David Warner can make a miraculous recovery from a groin injury, Burns has suddenly gone from fighting for his spot to now looking like being relied upon to play a crucial leadership role, guiding Will Pucovski through a Test debut in Adelaide.

Burns had received high-powered backing from coach Justin Langer to potentially survive for Adelaide even before Warner’s injury, but the Queenslander was still under massive pressure following five scores under 30 at a time when young gun Pucovski had blown hot in the Sheffield Shield with back-to-back centuries.

Former Test greats like Ian Chappell and Mark Waugh had called for his axing.

Joe Burns had the backing of Justin Langer despite his form slump. Picture: AFP Photo

As a result, this was meant to be a high-pressure week for Burns, as he prepared for a ‘bat off’ of sorts alongside Pucovski in an Australia A tour match starting on Saturday.

But now it shapes more like a timely dress rehearsal for Australia’s new opening pairing, and Burns with his 21 Tests worth of experience will be relied upon to help navigate Pucovski through a baptism of fire against India which is no easy assignment for any debutant, no matter the potential.

Australian teammates are backing Burns to rise to the occasion if Warner is out.

“Joe is averaging (nearly) 40 in Test cricket. He’s certainly established and he’s got four Test hundreds,” said Queensland and Australian teammate, Marnus Labuschagne.

“He’s a very good player. I think although he hasn’t scored the runs in Shield cricket that he’d like, he got 97 against Pakistan in the first Test last summer and he negotiated through that new ball period last summer.

“He’s not far away from a couple of really big scores and I think if he was to step up to that senior opener role, 100 per cent, I think he’s that sort of player that can step up if the team really needs it.

“He’s done it many times for Queensland and he’s done it a few times for Australia as well.”

Burns’ biggest moments as a Test player have included a man-of-the-match, series-clinching ton against New Zealand in Christchurch in 2016, and a huge 180 in his return to the Test scene against Sri Lanka in Canberra early last year.

Labuschagne said despite the magnitude of what it would mean if Warner was missing, Australia would feel good that six of their likely top seven for the series opener in Adelaide would have Sheffield Shield game-time under their belts this summer.

Joe Burns looks likely to keep his spot for the opening Test. Picture: AAP Images

Burns, Pucovski, Labuschagne himself, Matthew Wade, Travis Head and Tim Paine have all played plenty of red-ball matches, with Steve Smith the only batsman who hasn’t.

Labuschagne also believes there’s a huge amount of confidence and momentum Australia can take out of their ODI thrashing of India.

“Cricket’s a massive confidence game and even though it’s a different format it still gives you a lot of confidence when you’re scoring runs consistently,” said Labuschagne.

“The way Steve and Davey are batting currently, I’ve got no doubt they’ll be able to transfer that into the Test summer. Right now, there’s still a lot of games to be played before that. We’ve just got to make sure we finish this one day series well.”

Originally published as Mitchell Starc expected to feature in first T20 against India, in no doubt for first Test