The much-anticipated Ashes 2023 has finally arrived. While Australia is coming on the back of the WTC Final win against India, England played a one-off Test against Ireland last month. Meanwhile, ahead of the ongoing first Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham, the Aussies have left out Mitchell Starc for the game. This was a shocker for the fans and the cricket pundits alike.
However, Australia skipper Pat Cummins said that leaving out Starc is a squad mentality. He added that it is a good problem to have in the side. Starc has been replaced by Josh Hazlewood, who missed Royal Challengers Bangalore’s must-win game in the IPL 2023. Apart from this, he also missed the WTC Final.
“Tough call, I thought Mitch was really impressive last week but it’s a squad mentality. Really good problem to have.” Are Australia ready for England to come at them? “I think so…” says Cummins with a smile.
England: 1 Zak Crawley, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Ollie Pope, 4 Joe Root, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Ben Stokes (capt), 7 Jonny Bairstow (wk), 8 Moeen Ali, 9 Ollie Robinson, 10 Stuart Broad, 11 James Anderson
Australia: 1 David Warner, 2 Usman Khawaja, 3 Marnus Labuschagne, 4 Steve Smith, 5 Travis Head, 6 Cameron Green, 7 Alex Carey (wk), 8 Pat Cummins (capt), 9 Nathan Lyon, 10 Josh Hazlewood, 11 Scott Boland
Mitchell Starc’s numbers since 2021 aren’t impressive
Meanwhile, the left-arm pacer has struggled with the ball since early 2021. At the time, Australia hosted the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Meanwhile, two years back, the two-time World Cup winner played five Tests and picked 17 wickets at 33.23. Next year, he played 11 games and has 35 wickets to his name at a better average i.e 28.11. This year, he has played three games and has only six wickets at 46.66. This might have prompted the selectors to take such a call.
This is how Twitter reacted
Mitchell Starc skipped the IPL for test cricket only to be replaced by an IPL player. IPL is undefeated.
— R A T N I S H (@LoyalSachinFan) June 16, 2023
Test bowling average in England:
21.00 — Scott Boland
21.42 — Pat Cummins
23.58 — Josh Hazlewood
31.89 — Mitchell StarcGood move from captain Patrick James Cummins to drop starc
— KRISHNA (@KrishnaVK_18) June 16, 2023
Imagine being so good you’re keeping Mitchell Starc out of the side, and you’re the Aussies third option on paper. Josh Hazlewood everyone. #Ashes
— Dre Harrison (@Dre_WTF1) June 16, 2023
How the fuck does Mitchell Starc get dropped for the first ashes test these selectors are fuckin idiots
— Joel Daniel (@JoelyDenterpris) June 16, 2023
Mitchell Starc dropped as expected. He was so disappointing in the WTC final and in Test cricket in general for several months.
Boland really deserves credit. The guy came into the XI just because Cummins had COVID during last Ashes and has shown why he is here to stay. ?
— Anuj Nitin Prabhu (@APTalksCricket) June 16, 2023
Mitchell Starc skips IPL for test cricket and Australia dropped him in Ashes ??? pic.twitter.com/qoulo24ffU
— ANSHUMAN? (@AvengerReturns) June 16, 2023
Mitchell Starc dropped . We are coming for the WC with full fitness now . Lessss goooo
— Manan (@jeezmanan) June 16, 2023
The Aussies being worried enough about Bazball to drop Mitchell Starc is already a huge psychological win for England before a ball has even been bowled.#Ashes #ENGvAUS
— Alex Sarwar (@AlexSarwar20) June 16, 2023
Even if Mitchell Starc has been poor by his own standards recently, I'm still surprised he's been dropped for this first Ashes test. Anyway, come on England!
— Lee Barratt (@LeeGallows) June 16, 2023
#Ashes2022
Mitchell Starc to Rory Burns BOWLED first ball.#Ashes2023
Patt Cummins to Zak Crawley BOUNDARY off The first ball.#TheLionPrideSLpic.twitter.com/rf8gKcEncG— The Lion's Army (@TheLionPrideSL) June 16, 2023
