Injured Mitchell Starc hits out at England pacer Anderson's comments over Aussies lacking depth in pace
Mitchell Starc's bruised heel has put him out of action for the Boxing Day Test, but he is still able to launch verbal 'bouncers' at England. Starc had opposite number James Anderson in his sights as he reflected on his own injury-enforced absence and then backed replacement Jackson Bird to make England's all-time leading wicket-taker eat his words. Anderson's observations — that Australia's pace resources lack depth — came with England 3-0 down and already beaten in this Ashes series, thanks in part to a home attack led by Starc.
Mitchell Starc, who will miss the Boxing Day Test manages a smile yesterday. Pic/Getty Images
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Cricket Australia has confirmed the left-armer will sit out the showpiece fourth Test as the hosts bid to close on a 5-0 whitewash. Starc then said: "It'd be pretty selfish of me to go into a game not 100 per cent — especially when Jacko is waiting there and bowling really well. "I'm really happy for him to get a go, and I hope he takes 'five-for' and sticks it up this daft comment from the Poms."
Starc and combative opening batsman David Warner were the men doing the talking for Australia on Christmas Eve, and predictably neither held back. The series' leading wicket-taker added: "I certainly don't like facing Jacko in the nets, so I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do to the English batters. "He still bowls quick enough — pretty sure he still bowls quicker than the Poms. They haven't taken 20 wickets yet in the series, and we have — then they're having a crack at our depth.
"I think they've got bigger things to worry about than the depth of Australian fast bowlers."
There will be no let-up in the barrage of short balls for England's batsmen from one to 11. Starc said: "I'm pretty sure our guys have copped enough bouncers, and we haven't whinged about it yet — as far as I know, our guys will keep bouncing their batters. "The plan to the tail has always been the same, be very aggressive, bowl fast, get up in their noses and have them jumping around. We're 3-0 up... and I hope by the end of the week, it's 4-0..."
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