Mitchell Starc Has Perfect Chance to Stake Claim for Australia Place
The news that Mitchell Johnson will miss Australia’s fourth Test against India in Sydney is a blow for the Baggy Green, who will be without one of their premier seam bowlers.
However, in the form of Mitchell Starc, the hosts have an ideal replacement for Johnson, and one who will see this as a great opportunity to grab himself a regular spot in the team.
The 24-year-old left-armer appeared in the Brisbane Test, where he looked in decent form with 2-27 in the second innings and 52 with the bat at No. 9.
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It was his first appearance in the longest form of the game since late October and continues a run of him not playing consecutive Tests since Australia’s tour of India in 2013.
Starc is a consistent performer at domestic level, and he has looked in decent form for the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League.
He has also retained his consistency in the shorter forms of international cricket, having made 28 appearances in one-day internationals and 19 in Twenty20 internationals.
However, he has as yet been unable to translate that ability into potent performances in Tests.
Starc said, per ESPNCricinfo:
"The amount of cricket I've played with the white ball means I've got that added confidence in my game and what I want to do whether it’s in four overs or 10 overs.
It comes back to playing more red ball cricket and stringing a few games together, which comes back to performing in games as well. I think in those four to 10 overs with the white ball I know my game really well.
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With Johnson unavailable due to hamstring soreness and the Australians looking to be cautious with his health ahead of the World Cup, this is Starc’s chance to shine.
Like Johnson, Starc swings the ball prodigiously and at pace, while he also has an effective bouncer that comes from his being almost two metres tall.
Unfortunately, he has been as yet unable to find a way to translate his obvious ability into wickets at Test level, even though he has shown fleeting moments of what he is capable of.
Against South Africa in Perth in 2012, he took 6-154 in the second innings, including the wickets of Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers.
However, those key wickets came at a cost. His economy rate was 5.34, as he conceded those 154 runs from just 28.5 overs.
Later that same year, he took another five-wicket haul against Sri Lanka in Hobart to help the Baggy Green take victory in that game.
These performances show he has great potential, and with a run in the side he may well be able to become a very good performer at Test level.
All he needs is a run in the side, and Johnson’s withdrawal from the Sydney Test is the perfect chance for him to secure a place.
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