Left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc has said he is ready to shoulder added responsibility as Australia’s lone senior pacer in the Ashes series opener, set to begin on Friday at Perth Stadium. With skipper Pat Cummins sidelined due to a back stress issue and Josh Hazlewood nursing a hamstring strain, Starc will lead a relatively inexperienced Australian pace attack, featuring Scott Boland, debutant Brendan Doggett, and all-rounder Cameron Green.
Mitchell Starc embraces leadership role amid lightly-experienced pace attack
"I think we're all pretty clear on what our roles are. Obviously, I've got a little bit more experience there. Scotty's been around for a fair while now, so it's not like I'm telling him what to do,” Starc said.
“We've got Patty in the sheds with us anyway. So, I may take on a little bit of an experienced role, if you like. But we've all been around the traps for a while, so it's just staying together as a group."
Starc, known for his aggressive style, added: "I don't listen anyway. I'm not someone who's going to bowl within myself or be cautious with anything. It is what it is. You can't prepare for Test three, four, and five without playing the first one. We're all focused on this week. It'll be handbrake off and away we go."
He also expressed confidence in debutant Brendan Doggett, Australia’s third pace option. Doggett first received a national call-up during the 2018 Test tour of the UAE against Pakistan, and Starc believes the 25-year-old has matured considerably since then.
"Brendan was a lot younger and rawer then. We knew what he was about, and since then he's made the change to South Australia. I think he's come in red-hot. He's had a good couple of weeks. We as a group know what he's capable of, and the skills that he presents,” Starc said.
“And being a little older than back in 2018, he's probably a little more comfortable in his own skin and around the group. Really excited if he gets his opportunity this week to see what he can do in a Test arena. Having had him around the group over the years, I think he's certainly in a great headspace."
Despite some predictions of a ‘green Mamba’ surface, Starc dismissed suggestions that Perth Stadium would favour the bowlers.
"It's all good and well to look at the wicket, but until both teams have played on it, we're not really sure what it's actually going to do. The training wickets have had a little bit in them out the back, there's been some sideways and some up and down.
“We obviously know that everyone here likes to talk about the pace and bounce of Perth, but we've seen wickets here that have been really flat and pretty docile. So everyone can say what they want about the wicket, but until you've played on it, we won't know what to expect."
