News Analysis
Mitchell Starc, now edging towards 36, has just completed the sort of Ashes series that tends to be remembered long after the medals are handed out. Thirty-one wickets at 19.93, two half-centuries, and the Compton-Miller gong to prove it – tidy numbers that scarcely tell the whole story.
Australia’s left-arm quick set the tone in the very first over of the campaign, snaring Zak Crawley at Perth. A month later in Sydney he book-ended England’s tour, dismissing the outstanding Jacob Bethell for 154 and then Josh Tongue to wrap things up. In between he produced a career-best 7 for 58 at Perth, bowled at 145kph deep into the fifth Test, and – somehow – found time to make 77 in Brisbane, an innings that helped ensure Australia bowled under lights, six England wickets falling before stumps.
Starc and Scott Boland were the only bowlers on either side to survive all five Tests. Boland finished with 20 victims at 24.95, his burst at Joe Root in Sydney particularly ruthless, yet even he talked in wonder of the man operating from the other end.
“[Starc’s] led the attack in all five games,” Steven Smith said. “Him and Scotty playing all five games was a huge effort. We look at our attack and their attack. They only had Brydon Carse playing every game, everyone else went down.”
“[Australia] is a tricky place to bowl fast. The amount of force these guys put through their bodies on these wickets is outrageous. To be able to come out and play five Tests the way he and Scotty did and keep backing up day in, day out and do the job was incredible.”
England’s seamers felt the strain. Brydon Carse, praised by Ben Stokes for sheer stamina, managed 22 wickets but was expensive at 4.81 an over. Stokes himself hobbled through to the finale before injury struck. Pat Cummins, in contrast, appeared for one match in Adelaide and pinched six wickets after five months without competitive cricket – a handy cameo that sealed the urn – before giving way to the regulars.
For Starc, the talk of age cutting careers short is wearing thin.
“This group has shown that whilst there’s so much made about our age profile at times, that experience has been a really good thing in some moments of the series,” he said. “I think we’ve seen guys prove that.”
“If you’re still playing your role or if you’re still good enough, it shouldn’t matter how old you are. Our group do that really well and tailor programs or preparation for that. We’ve seen the results this series. It’s not always the case, but I feel like on the last day of the five-Test series, I’ve felt in worse condition than I have this series. So that means that the stuff I’ve been doing off the field is a good thing.”
The statistics back him up. Only eight players before Starc had combined 30 wickets with two fifties in a single series. Mitchell Johnson was the last Australian to pass the 30-wicket mark, tormenting England back in 2013-14. Starc has now matched Johnson’s haul, with fewer snarls and just as much bite.
Tactically he remains sharp. That 77 in Brisbane, compiled with Boland, was guided by the forecast and the clock. Bat for an hour, declare, hand the new pink ball to the quicks under lights. England never really recovered.
There is no hiding that Australia’s seam attack is ageing – Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood are all in their mid-thirties – but the sports science appears to be keeping pace. Rotating workloads, lighter training days, specialist strength drills: Starc’s body still allows him to sprint in during his 25th over and land yorkers at pace. Other teams will take note.
Australia leave the series with a 4-1 victory, questions about regeneration parked for now. England head home counting bruises, encouraged by flashes from Bethell and Tongue yet aware that Ashes cricket in Australia demands more than glimpses.
For Starc, the immediate future is a short break before another white-ball tour. Given the evidence of the last six weeks, few would bet against him steaming in and shouting for another new ball before long.
