Starc finally set for home Ashes dream

After two Ashes series in England, Mitchell Starc is about to fulfil his childhood dream of finally engaging the old enemy in Test cricket combat in Australia.

Back playing again after a break of almost four months due to a foot injury, Starc said he was now available for all forms of the game after Cricket Australia had kept him out of a one-day fixture on Sunday.

Starc had made his comeback just two days earlier against South Australia.

With the home Ashes series starting next month Starc is fired up to add to his eight Tests against England, all away from home, in the lost series of 2013 and 2015.

An injury in the latter deprived him of a chance to play a home Test against England later that year and paved the way for another left-arm quick named Mitchell to steal the show.

"That (2015) was the year we had the back-to-back Ashes (series) and I picked up a back stress fracture at the back of the Ashes in England, so was unavailable through that for the home Ashes,' Starc told AAP at a promotional event for Mastercard in Sydney.

"It worked out as a blessing when Mitch (Johnson) comes in and takes 37 wickets.

"It wasn't great being on the side injured, but all the same Australia won.

"It's something I'm really looking forward to being available for a change having watched the last one when the guys went so well and seeing how much it meant to them.

"It's s very special series and having won a World up at home, and seen how special that was, you can only draw the comparisons to the Ashes being as big, so looking forward to it.

"To play an Ashes series in Australia has always been a dream as a child, to pull on the baggy green, hopefully at the SCG would be pretty cool."

Image Id: D74C8BEB03224D63A74E79CDCD510E9F Image Caption: Starc celebrates a wicket in the 2013 Ashes // Getty

Starc expects to play the remainder of the Blues's one-day campaign before the Sheffield Shield matches that lead into the first Test at The Gabba starting November 23.

"The foot is feeling really good, so for me now it's looking forward to Friday and then again on Sunday and hopefully we're playing finals cricket in Hobart," Starc said.

Cricket Australia meanwhile have announced Mastercard as a new commercial partner for the coming summer.

Mastercard are set to hand out a host of ‘Priceless Surprises’ to unsuspecting cardholders as they use their Mastercard in a number of ways, such as buying tickets, entering promotions or spending onsite at Magellan Ashes matches and other international cricket this season.  

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