ENG vs AUS Ashes 2023: Why is Mitchell Starc Not Playing England vs Australia 1st Test? Check AUS Playing XI

In a massive breaking news development, Australia have dropped senior left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc for the first of the five-match Ashes 2023 Test series against England being played at the Edgbaston in Birmingham. The visiting Australian team will definitely be feeling very much high on confidence as they are coming into this exciting Ashes 2023 battle on the back of a staggering 210-run victory over India in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023 Final. The Aussies still have the prestigious Ashes “Urn” with them but they have not won an Ashes series in England during the last 22 years.

ENG vs AUS Ashes 2023: Why is Mitchell Starc Not Playing England vs Australia 1st Test?

After having lost the toss and being asked to bowl first, Australia captain Pat Cummins stated that Mitchell Starc misses out from AUS playing 11 in this ENG vs AUS 1st Test Ashes 2023. This is a huge decision taken by the visitors as another senior pacer Josh Hazlewood makes a comeback to the side after having missed the WTC Final 2023 against India due to injury. Incidentally, Starc ended up taking four wickets during that WTC final against India that included the prized scalp of Virat Kohli in the first innings. He also scored 41 runs with the bat in the second innings adding a crucial 93-run partnership alongside Alex Carey.

In his Test career so far, Starc has picked up as many as 310 wickets from 78 Tests at an average of 27.65 that includes 13 five-wicket hauls and 2 10-wicket match hauls as well. However, the Aussie team management have surprisingly taken the hard call by excluding the left-arm pacer and instead playing Hazlewood who last played a Test match in January 2023 against South Africa at home.

“We’d have batted as well. One change, Mitch Starc out, Hazlewood comes in. Tough call, Starc was really good last game but good to have someone like Hazlewood come in. Tough to manage the workloads, but that is a good problem to have. Good preparation to win the WTC final, we went into that fresh and we are now eager to go. England will come at us, but that’s okay,” said Australia captain Pat Cummins during the toss.

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AUS Playing XI

1. David Warner
2. Usman Khawaja
3. Marnus Labuschagne
4. Steve Smith
5. Travis Head
6. Cameron Green
7. Alex Carey (wk)
8. Pat Cummins (C)
9. Nathan Lyon
10. Josh Hazlewood
11. Scott Boland

Australia squad for first two Ashes 2023 Tests

Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Jimmy Peirson, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Todd Murphy, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc, David Warner.

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