'Big Four' can work for Ashes: Starc

Mitchell Starc believes a bowling-heavy attack featuring Australia's much-hyped 'Big Four' and Nathan Lyon could realistically fit into a Test XI, with the fast-bowling quartet's batting ability the key to such a radical selection move.

The re-emergence and full fitness of James Pattinson and Pat Cummins has many around the cricket world either excited or fearful at the prospect of that tearaway duo teaming up with Starc and Josh Hazlewood to form a dynamic four-man pace battery.

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And while the question of team balance appears the obvious initial stumbling block to seeing the foursome in action in the same Test XI, Starc says their capabilities with the willow could factor into the argument.

"It's an interesting one. I think the fact that we can all bat presents a stronger case for that," Starc said on Thursday.

"I can't see Nathan Lyon being left out – you have to pick him, he is a world-class spinner.

"(But) Pattinson is averaging about 80 in his last 10 first-class games; Josh and Cummins are very capable with the bat, and I know one end of the bat.

"I think that presents a stronger case, that we can bat, and when called upon, we have been able to do that (bat well) for Australia."

Starc played crucial hands of 61 and 30 in Australia's first Test win in India in February to underline his point, while the aggressive left-hander plundered seven sixes during his 84 against Pakistan in last summer's Boxing Day Test; only Matthew Hayden (11) and Adam Gilchrist (8) have hit more in one innings in Baggy Green.

The 27-year-old averages 24.81 with the bat, a figure slightly ahead of Richie Benaud (24.45), who is regarded as one of the country's finest-ever allrounders.

And while Cummins has taken significant strides with the bat and Hazlewood famously helped Adam Voges to a debut Test hundred in the Caribbean two years ago (though his returns have tailed away since), it's the form of Pattinson, alongside Starc, that makes the concept of using five bowlers seemingly possible.

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The left-hander finished the Sheffield Shield season with 80 and 17no in the final, before heading to Nottingham in County Championship Division Two and making scores of 89no and 59 in his first two trips to the middle.

In all, the 27-year-old left-hander has averaged 49 with the bat in 11 first-class innings since his latest return from injury in February, including four half-centuries.

"He's always been talented at hitting the ball, but he just had to tighten up a few things defensively," Victoria batting coach David Hussey told cricket.com.au last month.

"And now he's a very good lower-order player.

"Being injured for a long period of time, I guess the one advantage is you can work on your batting and your fielding and your fitness.

"And we spent a lot of hours together on his defensive style of play and also working on a few shots.

"It's coming along really well. Hopefully he can continue and he can be a top-order batter sooner rather than later."

Pushing Pattinson – or potentially Starc – to No.7 would also result in the promotion of wicketkeeper Matthew Wade into the top six, potentially presenting another dilemma for selectors given the left-hander has made 246 runs at 24.60 since his return to the Test team last November.

Glenn Maxwell is the incumbent No.6, though coach Darren Lehmann challenged the Victorian to make the spot his own after posting a century at first attempt in India from a position that has been a constant problem for Australia in recent years.

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Starc also said the alternative scenario – three quicks playing and one warming the bench – was also a healthy one.  

"The other way of looking at it is that we have four guys fit so we can work off each other, share (bowling) workloads and keep everyone fresh that way," he said.

"So there's a couple of options there which is exciting and will hopefully keep us all fit for a long time."

England won the Ashes in 2005 against the odds largely on the back of an outstanding four-man pace attack in Andrew Flintoff, Simon Jones, Matthew Hoggard and Steve Harmison.

However that side benefited from Flintoff's presence in the side as a genuine allrounder; as well as taking 24 wickets, he plundered 402 runs to dominate the series.

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Starc added that regardless of whether or not the 'Big Four' fits into a Test XI, the prospect of having them all fit and firing at the same time is a promising one.

"Jimmy (Pattinson) has been bowling lovely over in England, Patty's obviously been bowling perfectly over in India for that Test series and in the IPL now, Joshy's had his time off and is back bowling, so the four of us are ready to go and it's exciting," he said.  

"We have grown up and come through the ranks together but never had the chance to feature in a squad together because of injuries.

"But we still have plenty of time to wreak havoc on batsmen around the world and, hopefully, that starts at the Champions Trophy and then onwards to the Ashes.

"I think it is an exciting time for us and for Australian cricket to have four quicks together and build a strong cartel for the next five or so years."

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