Starc backs genius Hazlewood to keep England on the boil

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Starc backs genius Hazlewood to keep England on the boil
Australian paceman Josh Hazlewood sends down a delivery during training.

Brisbane - Josh's nagging line and length would tie up one end giving me and Cummins to rip England batsmen, says Mitchell

By AFP

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Published: Mon 13 Nov 2017, 6:48 PM

Last updated: Mon 13 Nov 2017, 8:50 PM

Mitchell Starc says pace partner Josh Hazlewood's unerring line and length will allow his fellow bowlers to let rip at England's batsmen in the Ashes Test series.

Starc and Hazlewood form a potent new-ball attack for Australia in the series, which gets under way in Brisbane on November 23.

Backing them up is another New South Wales tearaway, Pat Cummins, who has been singled out by Australian leg-spin great Shane Warne as the Ashes destroyer with his searing pace.

In rampaging form, Starc and Cummins had two first class games for New South Wales, but their team mate Hazlewood just had the one, against Western Australia, after making a delayed comeback from a side strain.

It was an impressive return for Hazlewood, who claimed six wickets and earned gushing praise from Australia captain Steve Smith.

Test spearhead Starc may have captured two hat tricks for NSW in a recent Shield win over Western Australia, but he claims Hazlewood will prove to be Australia's spark.

Starc said Hazlewood's nagging line and length would tie up one end and allow him and Cummins to attack from the other.

"He's a bloody genius with line and length, it allows Pat and I to be aggressive and that's how I bowl," Starc told reporters in Brisbane on Monday. "We can unleash from the other end, bowl as quick as we can and attack.

"He (Hazlewood) takes his wickets with line and length and Pat and I come in and try and blast teams out, try and attack the stumps and really intimidate.

"We complement each other really well."

Starc, Cummins, Hazlewood and fourth paceman Jackson Bird are training together this week in Brisbane instead of playing Shield games for their state sides.

Starc has taken 17 wickets at 12.70 in this season's Sheffield Shield, but said he had yet to reach peak form ahead of the first Test.

"I think I was just used at the right times and cleaned up the tail against WA," he said.

"Josh was the one who blasted out the top order and Patty bowled really well in the middle."

Starc played down talk that he had to dominate, just as fellow left-arm quick Mitchell Johnson did to secure victory for Australia in the last Ashes series Down Under in 2013.

"I think we have an attack that is gelling well," Starc said.

"It doesn't have to be one guy who stands up. If someone has a Mitchell Johnson-type series, fantastic.

"But if we win the Ashes it doesn't matter who gets all the wickets.


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