Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc is not playing the first Ashes 2023 Test match against England in Birmingham. It is noteworthy that Starc hadn’t started in the Australian Playing XI during the last Ashes series in England as well. In fact, the left-arm pacer had participated in only the fourth Test in Manchester four years ago.
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With pacers Josh Hazlewood and Scott Boland marking their respective run-ups before the toss, it was enough a sign with respect to them making the cut to the final XI for this match. The same, however, was the first thing confirmed by Australia captain Pat Cummins at the toss.
Speaking of the toss, England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and chose to bat to make most of a “good wicket“. “We’ll bat first. Looks a great cricket wicket. Good toss to win. Very proud to be here with all the hype around, very special moment for me and the team,” Stokes told host broadcaster Sky Sports at the toss.
Why Is Mitchell Starc Not Playing Today vs England?
Much like his counterpart, Cummins also wanted to bat first. Asked about Starc, the 30-year old player called the decision as a “tough call”. Readers must note that the same is the visiting team’s only change from ICC World Test Championship 2021-2023 final against India at The Oval last week.
“We’d have batted as well. Tough call, [Mitchell] Starc was really good last game but good to have someone like [Josh] Hazlewood come in. Tough to manage the workloads but that is a good problem to have,” Cummins told Sky Sports at the toss.
For the uninitiated, Australia were always going to pick two pacers between Starc, Hazlewood and Boland. Least experienced among the trio, Boland finding a spot in the Playing XI on current form means that Australia have agreed to suggestions provided by former cricketers such as Tom Moody and Michael Vaughan.
Starc, who had picked expensive bowling figures of 27.4-1-148-4 during the WTC final, has been left out as a rotational change. With him not suffering any injury, expect him to be playing one (or more) of the remaining four Tests on this tour.
