Starc fires back at Anderson 'depth' claim

Mitchell Starc has fired back at Jimmy Anderson's claim that Australia is lacking fast-bowling depth, saying the tourists "have got bigger things to worry about" as they attempt to avoid a series whitewash.

Anderson's comments this week that Australia lacks star pace options outside of Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins clearly riled the left-armer, who on Sunday was ruled out of the Boxing Day Test due to a heel injury.

While he won't be sending down any physical short balls at the English this week, the left-armer fired through a few verbal bouncers two days out from the match.

"They haven't taken 20 wickets yet in the series and we have, yet they're having a crack at our depth," Starc said of Anderson's comments.

"I think they've got bigger things to worry about than the depth of Australia's fast bowlers.

"Hopefully Jacko (Starc's replacement Jackson Bird) takes five and shows that the depth in Australian cricket, especially the bowlers, is pretty strong. Even though there's a few guys missing through injury.

"He still bowls quick enough. I'm pretty sure he still bowls quicker than the Pom bowlers as well.

"Hopefully he takes five-for and sticks it up these depth comments from the Poms."

Speaking on the BBC this week, Anderson played down any doomsday predictions about the English team after they'd slumped to a 0-3 series deficit.

While Australia's star pace trio have ruffled the English batsmen with their speed in this series, Anderson claimed the talent pool was thin outside the frontline quicks.

"They’ve had three bowlers who all can bowl 90 miles an hour and they’ve stayed fit for three games, but you look beyond that and they’ve got problems," Anderson said.

"(James) Pattinson’s injured. (Nathan) Coulter-Nile is injured.

"They haven’t got much other than these three that are bowling at the minute.

"(Bird) bowls very similar to English bowlers. He's the guy they've brought to England before saying 'he's suited to English conditions because he bowls 80 or 85 miles per hour and he swings it."

While Anderson dismissed Bird’s threat in the pace stakes, the right-armer boasts a solid Test record of 34 wickets, including 24 at an average of 24.40 in Australia.

The 31-year has taken 25 wickets at 16 in the JLT Sheffield Shield this season and Starc said the right-armer will provide a stern test of England's batsmen.

"I certainly don't like facing Jacko in the nets and I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do to the English batters throughout this Test match," Starc said.

"He's been awesome in Shield cricket, he's been doing it for a number of years and he deserves his chance this week."

2017-18 International Fixtures

Magellan Ashes Series

Australia Test squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird.

England Test squad: Joe Root (c), James Anderson (vc), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Gary Ballance, Stuart Broad, Alastair Cook, Mason Crane, Tom Curran, Ben Foakes, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ben Stokes, Mark Stoneman, James Vince, Chris Woakes.

First Test Australia won by 10 wickets. Scorecard

Second Test Australia won by 120 runs (Day-Night). Scorecard

Third Test Australia won by an innings and 41 runs. Scorecard

Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Tickets

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

Gillette ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14. Tickets

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Tickets

Fifth ODI Perth Stadium, January 28. Tickets

Prime Minister's XI

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

Gillette T20 trans-Tasman Tri-Series

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Tickets

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

Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Tickets

Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 14

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

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

Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21