Mitchell Starc believes he and fellow fast bowler Ben Hilfenhaus are in a Sheffield Shield bowl-off for the final spot in the Australian attack to take on South Africa in the first Test.
Starc suspects there is only one fast bowling spot up for grabs for the Gabba Test starting on Friday week, with Peter Siddle and James Pattinson all but assured of getting the nod.
Starc and Hilfenhaus both have little chance to prove their form with the red ball, only recently returning from the Champions League Twenty20 in South Africa, where Starc’s Sydney Sixers were victorious.
This makes Starc’s performance for NSW against Queensland at Allan Border Oval starting on Friday, and Hilfenhaus’ efforts for Tasmania against South Australia at Bellerive, all the more important.
“Pete Siddle and James Pattinson have been back in Australia for a few weeks now in Shield cricket, bowling a lot with the red ball,” Starc said on Thursday.
“Hilfy and I have been putting in the extra work (in training) in South Africa and in Sri Lanka before that.
“Our numbers are going to be where they want to be in terms of workload numbers.
“There’s no reason why we can’t take some of that white-ball form into the red-ball cricket.”
Hilfenhaus struck the first blow on Thursday, finishing with the economical figures of 2-25 from 13 overs in favourable conditions as the Redbacks crumbled to be all out for 112 in Hobart.
The stocky outswinger struggled to find a rhythm early, before snaring the top-order wickets of Sam Raphael and Callum Ferguson, both caught slashing at wider deliveries.
Starc will view his time on the Allan Border Oval wicket as a great opportunity – but in recent years, it has proven to be a graveyard for hopeful bowlers, with flat decks and short boundaries resulting in cheap runs.
Still it looms as another chance to show the improvement his bowling has undergone in the past 12 months, thanks in part to the tutelage of champion Pakistan left-armer Wasim Akram and former Australian Test quick Jason Gillespie.
“If I can take some wickets and bowl some good overs for NSW, it’s obviously going to help me down the track next week,” he said.
Starc also weighed into the debate on whether a rotation policy should be used for Australia’s fast bowling core, saying he never wants to be rested for a game where he is at full fitness.
“This rotation thing has been around for a long time, not just one day. The view hasn’t changed from all the players,” he said.
“Everyone wants to play as many games as they can for Australia. I don’t think that’s ever going to change.
“If you’re fit and you’re the right person for the job, you’re not going to be putting your hand up to be rested. That’s my view especially.”
Under-pressure Test batsman Mike Hussey made a solid 65 from 107 balls in trying conditions as West Australia were sent in to bat on a green-tinged MCG pitch by Victoria.
