Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc warmed up for The Ashes series against England with a four-wicket haul for New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield.
Starc (4-91) dismissed four of Victoria’s top six on day one of the game in Sydney with his Australia team-mate, off-spinner Nathan Lyon (2-65), removing the other two.
Josh Hazlewood (0-54) bowled a wicketless 18 overs while another Ashes squad member, Sean Abbott, picked up the other wicket to fall as Victoria closed on 340-7.
Australia captain Pat Cummins is hoping to be fit for the second Ashes Test in Brisbane – a day-nighter – from December 4
Starc and Hazlewood are expected to spearhead the Australia pace attack in the opening Test against England in Perth from November 21, with captain Pat Cummins to miss at least that match with a back injury.
Victoria’s Scott Boland – playing in this ongoing fixture against New South Wales – is set to step in for Cummins as he has taken 49 wickets at an average of 12.63 across nine Tests in Australia, with a best of 6-7 against England in Melbourne in 2021.
However, Boland’s fellow seamer Brendan Doggett boosted his hopes of playing in Perth with a five-for for South Australia as the visitors rolled Tasmania for 209 in Hobart.
Brendan Doggett is yet to play for Australia but pressed his claims with a five-for for South Australia
Opener Jake Weatherald and all-rounder Beau Webster, both hoping to feature against England later this month after being named in the Australia squad, were out for 23 and 14 respectively, although they were not dismissed by Doggett (5-66).
In reply, South Australia closed on 88-3 with Australia wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey 25 not out after another Ashes certainty, Travis Head, was caught off Webster for nine.
Ashes series in Australia 2025-26
All times UK and Ireland
First Test: Friday November 21 – Tuesday November 25 (2.30am) – Optus Stadium, PerthSecond Test (day/night): Thursday December 4 – Monday December 8 (4.30am) – The Gabba, BrisbaneThird Test: Wednesday December 17 – Sunday December 21 (12am) – Adelaide OvalFourth Test: Thursday December 25 – Monday December 29 (11.30pm) – Melbourne Cricket GroundFifth Test: Sunday January 4 – Thursday January 8 (11.30pm) – Sydney Cricket Ground
