The Ashes: Australia to give debut to Faulkner, recall Starc

quotI do have a team We have two changes Jackson Bird is out and Usman Khawaja is out so Mitchell Starc comes in and James Faulkner makes his debutquot Clarke told reporters at The Oval on Tuesday the day before the match at the south London ground The 23yearold Faulkner replaces outofform batsman Khawaja who averaged just 19 in three successive Tests after Australia coach Darren Lehmann warned his failing toporder their places were in danger following the team39s latest collapse which helped England to a 74run win in the fourth Test at Durham and an unbeatable 30 series lead Tasmania39s Faulkner a leftarm fastmedium bowler and righthand batsman has played eight oneday internationals and three Twenty20s but has yet to score a hundred at any level of senior domestic or international cricket quotHe is a fighter and a competitor and although he might not look the best all the time he will do his best to stay out there and help his partner make a hundred or bat with the tail to help them throughquot Clarke said quotThe better conditions there are for batting the better bowler he is I think he is the right character for this team and you will see how much talent he39s got in this Test matchquot Allrounder Shane Watson who started the series as an opener before moving to number six is now set to bat in the number three position previously occupied by Khawaja Meanwhile leftarm quick Starc39s curious tour of alternate Tests continued with this latest recall Starc played in Australia39s 14run first Ashes Test defeat at Trent Bridge was dropped for the 347run second Test loss at Lord39s only to be recalled again for the drawn third Test at Old Trafford and left out once more at Durham But he has now got his chance again after paceman Bird failed to impress in the fourth Test Monday saw Starc criticise his inout treatment by the selectors with the bowler telling Australia39s Fairfax Media quotI guess it would be nice to get a few games back to back and get that rhythm quotBut to have a chance at that consistency that everyone talks about 39you39ve got to be more consistent39 well it39s a bit hard when you play one game and you39re droppedquot Clarke responding to Starc39s remarks said quotAgain it39s not about the individual player My comments stand that if you perform well enough you won39t be droppedquot The latest decisions by coach Darren Lehmann and wicketkeeping great Rodney Marsh the two Australia selectors on tour national selector John Inverarity is in England but as a 39consultant39 and to give a casting vote if required means 17 out of the 18strong squad will have played in this Ashes series The only exception is reserve wicketkeeper Matthew Wade who was being considered as a batsman only at The Oval having scored hundreds in two of Australia39s last four wins Yet with Australia having gone eight Tests without a victory a run dating back to their 40 series loss in India earlier this year Wade was unable to force his way back in England bidding for a first 40 home Ashes series win will have to make at least one enforced change after allrounder Tim Bresnan was ruled out with a seasonending back injury However England captain Alastair Cook said earlier Tuesday he would not announce his side until Wednesday39s toss Australia teamu00a0Chris Rogers David Warner Shane Watson Michael Clarke Steven Smith Brad Haddin wkt James Faulkner Mitchell Starc Peter Siddle Ryan Harris Nathan Lyon