Why Starc won’t change in English conditions

It’s not for him.

Four years ago in England, the left-armer was left out of Australia’s XI for all but one of the five Ashes Tests.

The Aussies went in with a plan to strangle England and were keen to eschew the longstanding risks that come from Starc’s searing but sometimes wayward pace and swing.

At various stages, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, James Pattinson and Peter Siddle were preferred to Starc, whose lone appearance came in the series-retaining fourth rubber at Old Trafford. Starc took 4-126 from 38 overs in that match, but perhaps his most telling contribution came in the form of a quickfire first innings half-century which catapulted the tourists towards a first innings just shy of 500.

If the ends justify the means, then the decision to marginalise Starc last time around ultimately paid off. Australia successfully defended the urn on English soil for the first time in 18 years, even if the feat was diminished by a fifth Test defeat at The Oval, where Starc was again left out.

Starc did not let the disappointment of being a bit-part player for such an important series define him. He resumed his role as spearhead for the ensuing home summer and, until injury sidelined him from the SCG Test earlier this year, Starc hadn’t missed a Test since the last Ashes clash of 2019.

It was almost a full four-year cycle of Test cricket (albeit with some reductions because of the pandemic). But in that time there was no way for Starc to prove he could be a major force in England. Until now.

Starc has played nine Tests in the UK across his three previous Ashes tours, averaging 31.27 with the ball at an economy rate of 3.43. Marginally but not horrendously worse than his overall record of 306 wickets at 27.52 with an economy rate of 3.30.

Last time out, Starc sought to appease the requests of team leaders by bowling to contain rather than destroy. Starc is many things, but he’s not the guy to quietly hold up an end. This time around, he is going to do it his way, good, bad or otherwise.

“We all sort of bought into the whole economy thing and whilst that went really well for the group and we were able to retain the Ashes, it probably took away from my strengths and it took me a lot longer to readjust back into Australian conditions,” Starc told CODE Sports.

“Without having had too much thought about it, I’m not going to change the strengths of my game and if that means I’m not in an XI at a certain point, so be it.”

The signs are more promising that Starc – who has 306 Test wickets to his name – will feature more heavily this time. For one thing Australia has six Tests in England in 2023 because of the bonus World Test Championship final. That Hazlewood – who has battled to stay fit in recent years – is again under an injury cloud means Starc’s experience and durability are also more valuable. And with England’s Bazball approach meaning that no bowler is safe from leaking runs, there is something to be said for meeting fire with fire.

Starc is optimistic.

“I‘d like to think that I’ll play more of a part of this series,” Starc says.

“I think with the things that I add to our bowling group and how I’ve sort of developed over the last four years as well, I don’t have to change what I’ve been doing for an English tour. It’s more about how I can complement the group, and whether that’s going to be conditions based or match-ups based, that’s fine.

“But I’m not going to take away from my strengths and change too much about my game.”

“I’m always expecting to play. I think you’ve got to have that mindset of preparing to play.

“I‘d like to think I’ve developed over those four years, being able to add strings to the bow and certainly be more consistent than I was four years ago. So being older and playing a bigger amount of cricket probably plays to that.”

In any case, Starc is comfortable that the message will be clear from the selection panel of George Bailey, Tony Dodemaide and coach Andrew McDonald.

The selectors have shown a preparedness to make tough calls, including leaving out Travis Head for the start of the recent Indian tour because of concerns about his record in spinning conditions.

Such calls will always have detractors, but Starc says that if there is clarity, angst will be minimised.

“I think the main thing with that is the communication which hasn’t always been the strongest suit. So if the communication as to why someone’s not playing or someone’s playing, whether it is horses for courses or a match-up things, I think that’s the biggest thing.

“As long as that is as open and transparent as it can be, it’s certainly better received. You’re always going to be disappointed when you don’t play. That’s the nature of it. Everyone always wants to play.

“I’d like to think we’re in a position now as a group and, with selectors and coach, that those conversations are really good.”

Having lost around seven kilograms from the start of the home summer to the end of the Indian tour, Starc is replenished and prepared for a potentially legacy-defining year. It’s why the speedster, who is eyeing the 100-Test milestone (he’s currently on 77), again bypassed the Indian Premier League this year.

“I was close to going back in the IPL this year. But I just didn’t want to jeopardise the amount of Australian cricket we’ve got this year with the Indian series into the Ashes into a World Cup. As much as I’d like to go back to the IPL, it’s always going to be there and hopefully I’m good enough to still play in it but I’ve always made my decisions based on Australian cricket.”