Australian quick Mitchell Starc has boosted his chances at selection for the First Test against Pakistan with a 10-wicket Sheffield Shield haul.
Starc claimed five wickets in the first innings followed by another five in the second to help New South Wales to an eight-wicket win over Tasmania at Drummoyne Oval in Sydney on Monday.
The big left-armer is hoping to win back his spot in the Australia Test team after only playing once in the Ashes this year.
Australia utilised Pat Cummins, Peter Siddle, James Pattinson and Nathan Lyon as their attack in the fifth Test against England.
Starc has traditionally been a lock in the Test XI during the Australian summer but will need to displace Siddle or Pattinson.
Among his scalps against Tasmania was Test skipper Tim Paine, who he clean bowled, to reiterate his return to top form after only managing 1-129 from 39 overs in the Sheffield Shield opener against Queensland.
“I changed my approach and a fraction in my technique as well, just to feel like I was attacking the crease and finding some of that rhythm,” Starc said.
Australia will Pakistan in the First Test at the Gabba on November 21.
Marnus Labuschagne practically secured his spot in the XI for the First Test with a Player of the Match performance in Queensland’s four-wicket win over South Australia.
Labuschagne, who was a revelation during the 2019 Ashes in England, made an unbeaten 72* to guide the Bulls to victory. He also took a wicket with the ball.
Other Test contenders Travis Head, Usman Khawaja and Joe Burns failed to press their claims. Head and Khawaja were both dropped during the 2019 Ashes.
Head only managed 12 in the second innings after a 25-ball duck in the first. Khawaja only managed 2 and a golden duck, while Burns made 22 and 39.
Western Australia defeated reigning champions Victoria by nine wickets with Shaun Marsh scoring a double century to keep alive his faint Test hopes.
