Mitchell Starc Hits Back After James Anderson ended the Perth Test by taking a blow to the head from Pat Cummins

James Anderson ended the Perth Test by taking a blow to the head from Pat Cummins, and Australia have him firmly in their sights for the Boxing Day Test, too.

Anchored by the brilliant batting of captain Steve Smith, the hosts have barely put a foot wrong in the five-match series. They will head to the MCG confident of pushing England toward a second successive whitewash on home soil.

However, they will have to do it without their pace spearhead Mitchell Starc, who is nursing a heel injury and has been replaced by Jackson Bird.

While Starc’s absence is a big relief for the tourists, Tasmania paceman Bird has been in impressive form in the domestic Sheffield Shield.

Right-armer Bird also has ample MCG experience. He has made his Test debut against Sri Lanka at the Melbourne colosseum. He also bowled in last year’s Boxing Day Test against Pakistan.

Starc hopes his understudy, Jackson Bird,” takes five wickets and sticks it up the Poms”. “It’s quite humorous actually, “said Starc.” They haven’t taken 20 wickets yet in the series, and we have, then they’re having a crack at our depth. I certainly don’t like facing Jacko [Bird] in the nets, so I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do to the English batters in this Test match.”

Chris Woakes of Starc’s absence:

” He’s the leading wicket-taker in the series so he ‘ s a loss for Australia, ” said Chris Woakes.

” He’s been on really good form and is a world-class bowler.”

“Any team that loses a guy like Mitchell is going to miss him, but they have Jackson Bird and we won’t be taking him lightly.” Woakes, the gentlest of souls off the field provided a pleasant antidote to the Anderson- Warner- Starc storm.

” So really happy for him to get a go and hopefully he takes five- for and sticks it up those depth comments from the Poms. ” Starc also confirmed that Australia ‘ s barrage of bouncers at England ‘ s tail would continue in his absence.