Mitchell Starc: “For me as a senior player I’ve got to step up”

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Australia left-arm seamer Mitchell Starc has conceded that he needs to have more of an impact with the new ball in the remaining three ODIs against England.

Even though Australia are 2-0 down and on the verge of losing the series, Starc is the highest wicket-taker after the first two matches with six wickets at an average of 21.66.

However, while Starc is taking wickets, the 27-year-old conceded that he is not at all impressed with his 6.50 economy rate.

“I haven’t played too much white ball cricket for a little while with a few injuries so it’s taken me a little bit longer than I would have liked with the new ball,” Starc was quoted as saying by SBS News. “I’ve been pretty poor if I’m honest with the new ball – leaking a few runs.

“I’ve still been able to take a few wickets but I think it’s one thing we’ve mentioned as a group is our new ball bowling has been pretty poor of late.”

While Australia’s pace attack is set to be be fortified with the return of Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, Starc believes he has to lead by example and put England on the back foot early on.

Hazlewood missed the first two games of the series with an illness, while Cummins was rested.

“For me as a senior player I’ve got to step up,” Starc said. “I think I’ve been okay in the past with the new ball so it’s getting back to that and fixing things up.

“They come pretty hard at the top of the order. If the two big guys come back tomorrow it’s important for us to start really well with the ball against a pretty aggressive line-up.”