Mitchell Starc: Australia have left out Mitchell Starc for the Ashes opener at Edgbaston in Birmingham. Josh Hazlewood, who missed WTC final against India due to Achilles problem, has been drafted into the playing XI. With Scott Boland having cemented his place in the playing XI with a terrific spell against India, Starc was the likely candidate to be dropped from the playing XI.
Starc had an ordinary outing against India in the WTC final at the Oval, picking only four wickets across both innings and going for over five runs per over. On the other hand, Boland was very meticulous with his line and length picking five wickets across both innings and conceding below three runs. With Pat Cummins, the skipper, he cannot be dropped. Also, Nathan Lyon is an automatic selection due to offering spin angle in the playing XI.
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Ashes 2023: Mitchell Starc dropped for ever so reliable Josh Hazlewood
While it was a toss-up between Hazlewood and Boland, Starc was also in danger of losing his spot due to his inconsistency. In 2022, the left-arm pacer picked up 35 wickets in 11 Tests at an average of 28.11. In 2023 the 32-year-old played three Tests picking six wickets at a high average of 46.66. While Starc has picked up 74 wickets against England in 18 Test matches, Boland’s accuracy and the tight off-stump line earned him a spot in the opening Ashes Test.
Speaking about Hazlewood, the tall pacer bowls stump to stump and is pretty economical with the ball in hand. His record against England is also impeccable picking 60 wickets in 14 matches that he has played. During the nets session leading to opening Ashes Test Hazlewood proved his fitness by going full throttle. This will be RCB bowler’s only second Test in 2023 after playing his first against South Africa in January 2023.
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