Last time Mitchell Starc played at the Gabba, Shane Warne dismissed him as “soft”.
Barely two months later, Mitchell Johnson reckons the revitalised left-arm quick has done enough to earn another tag – future Test attack spearhead.
The lanky Starc looms as a real danger to minnows Bangladesh in what Johnson hinted could be a four-pronged pace attack on a bouncy Gabba deck in Australia’s second World Cup pool match on Saturday.
It will be a far cry from the forlorn image cut by Starc at a sweltering Gabba during the second Test against India in December.
In TV commentary, Warne angered Australian coach Darren Lehmann when he criticised Starc’s body language while bowling, using the “soft” tag.
Starc later wilted in the Gabba heat, at one stage leaving the field to be treated for fatigue, and was not selected for the subsequent Boxing Day Test.
A very different Starc looks set to stride out to the Gabba deck on Saturday thanks to his impressive form fightback with the white ball.
Barely two weeks after admitting his own playing days were numbered, 33-year-old Johnson said he had seen enough to suggest Starc could lead the next pace generation ahead of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood in both Tests and ODIs.
“He has everything that it takes to be a spearhead,” Johnson said.
“He’s doing all the right things at the moment – going out there and enjoying himself, bowling fast, swinging the ball.
“That’s what it is all about.
“And he is learning every day.
“I am sure if he keeps continuing the way he is he will be a champion one-day and Test bowler in the future.”
Since his Gabba debacle, Starc has nabbed an ODI tri-series tournament-high 12 scalps at 16.33 with a best haul of 6-43.
And he extended his good form with 2-47 in Australia’s convincing World Cup opening win over England.
In contrast, his new ball partner Hazlewood (0-45) went wicketless for almost seven an over in that match.
While the main talking point this week is captain Michael Clarke’s expected return at the expense of stand-in skipper George Bailey, the make-up of Australia’s attack will be another hot topic with speedster Cummins still waiting in the wings.
Lehmann has insisted that their best available XI will be picked for each World Cup game but the jury is out on whether their pace attack is settled based on Hazlewood’s opening effort.
Johnson hinted that Australia would exploit a bouncy Gabba deck by unleashing a pace barrage.
“With our bowing attack I feel we have a huge advantage,” Johnson said.
“We have got guys like Patty Cummins who didn’t quite make it the last time who bowls nice and fast.
“We will have to wait and see. It is pretty hard to change a winning team but you have to go on conditions.
“If it is nice and fast we could pick an extra fast bowler, you never know.”
