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Mitchell Starc's Ashes spoiler alert

This information should not surprise the loyal followers of Ashes cricket

In an age when television and movie spoilers are more actively avoided than oncoming traffic, Australia spearhead Mitchell Starc has revealed one of the major Magellan Ashes plot points three months in advance.

So for those of you holding out for the first ball at the Gabba without any clue how the series might unfold, it’s best you look away now.

Last chance.

OK, we’re now officially in spoiler territory. Beyond the Wall, some would say.

But if you didn’t see this narrative coming, then you must have completely gone cold turkey on what’s been happening in England for the past five Test matches. Maybe even longer. 

Joe Root’s side, who impressively beat South Africa 3-1 before obliterating the West Indies in the first day-night Test on home soil, have serious issues regarding batting positions No.2, 3 and 5. 

Alastair Cook, the resilient former skipper who looks reborn after stepping down from the captaincy, has had 12 opening partners since Andrew Strauss retired five years ago.

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Cook’s latest comrade is Mark Stoneman, a left-hander who made his debut against the Windies at Edgbaston and got a brute of a ball to be out for eight.

Replacing him in the middle was Tom Westley, England’s latest first-drop. In five Test innings, Westley has made three starts and one half-century but hasn’t guaranteed long-term selection with a big score.

Westley came in for middle-order phoenix Gary Ballance after injury ended the Yorkshireman’s third crack at Test level.

Finally, at No.5 is Dawid Malan, who made a spectacular international debut against South Africa in Twenty20 cricket and has 100 runs from five Test knocks, 65 coming in his most recent outing.

Malan, Stoneman and Westley have seven Test caps between them, and if they all make it through the remainder of the Windies Test series that number almost doubles to 13 ahead of the first Ashes Test in Brisbane on November 23.

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So here’s the spoiler: Starc and his Fast Bowlers’ Union (and chief spinner Nathan Lyon), are going to target those inexperienced batsmen in the Ashes. 

"They’re certainly not as settled in the batting stakes as they were a little while ago," Starc told The Unplayable Podcast

"Root and Cook are their two guys that are quite experienced and their two key batters. 

"They’re trying a few guys there at the top with the last couple of series so you don’t really quite know who they’re going to bring to Australia yet. It will be interesting, it’s a nice one to watch for the bowlers. 

"We’re a more settled side than they are at the moment. 

"Their batting line-up is one we can look at try to exploit in our conditions."

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While Starc is unsurprisingly liking the look of England’s fledgling batting unit, he’s much more fearful of the tourists’ prolific bowling attack.

"(England) will rely a lot on their bowlers who come to Australia and have played a lot in Australia before," he said.

"That’s the most dangerous part about their team with guys who have taken a lot of wickets, home and away as well."

Starc is mainly referring to pace pair James Anderson and Stuart Broad. Between them have nearly 900 Test wickets.

Anderson needs only eight more victims for 500 Test wickets while Broad requires 16 for 400.

There’s a good chance both players might reach their respective milestones in Brisbane, a match Starc is eyeing for his international return from injury.

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The left-armer went down with a broken foot halfway through the 2017 Qantas Tour of India and the injury flared up again after Australia’s early exit from the Champions Trophy in June. 

Now back on the rehab trail, Starc is aiming to be bowling next week before making his competitive return in September’s JLT One-Day Cup for NSW Blues.

"I have another scan tomorrow actually, Thursday, to see where it’s at," Starc said. 

"Hopefully the bone edema, or hot spots as they are commonly known, are all gone in the foot and I can start bowling on Monday, if that’s the case.

I’ve been rushed back the last few times I’ve been injured for tournaments, like the Champions Trophy and my foot wasn’t right for that. 

"The big series is the Ashes this summer so I don’t want to go into that carrying anything small or coming back too early for an Indian tour. 

"We figured the timeline suits coming back for the domestic one-day tournament. 

"Having some good cricket there, playing some (JLT Sheffield) Shield games and then ready to go and available for selection for the Ashes."

2017-18 International Fixtures:

Magellan Ashes Series


First Test Gabba, November 23-27. Buy tickets


Second Test Adelaide Oval, December 2-6 (Day-Night). Buy tickets


Third Test WACA Ground, December 14-18. Buy tickets


Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Buy tickets


Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Buy tickets


ODI Series v England


First ODI MCG, January 14. Buy tickets


Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Buy tickets


Third ODI SCG, January 21. Buy tickets


Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Buy tickets


Fifth ODI Perth TBC, January 28. Join the ACF


Prime Minister's XI


PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Buy tickets


T20 trans-Tasman Tri-Series


First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Buy tickets


Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Buy tickets


Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Buy tickets


Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 13


Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16


Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18


Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21