Australian cricketing great Mitchell Johnson says he would’ve gone with a fast bowling attack that included Jhye Richardson for the first Ashes Test at The Gabba.
Johnson, the player of the series in the 2013/14 Ashes, says he wouldn’t have picked his former teammate Mitchell Starc in the XI due to his lack of current form.
While the left-armer will start for Australia in the first Test after Pat Cummins confirmed the side on Sunday, Johnson thinks the in-form West Australian should’ve instead got the nod to bowl alongside the new captain, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon.
“Yeah look, I always back Mitch Starc being a left-armer,” Johnson said on SENZ's Saturday Session.
“But look, it can’t be a personal decision as well, he’s not in his best form at the moment.
“To be honest, I’d probably have Jhye Richardson up front in that first Test and then look at ‘Starcy’ coming in with the pink ball (in Adelaide).”
With a potential second pink ball Test in either Melbourne or Hobart and Perth set to miss out, Johnson says that’s where he thinks Starc would be most valuable due to his ability to swing the ball.
“There’s possibly going to be two pink ball Tests, and he’s a real confidence player, Starcy, when he’s on it’s so good to watch,” Johnson explained.
“He bowls fast, he’s a tall guy, he gets that extra bounce and that late swing, I want him in the team, but I want him at his best as well.”
Starc will line up for his 62nd Test for Australia on Wednesday when the first match of the series begins in Brisbane.
Richardson, 25, has only played two Tests for his nation, both coming in 2019 against Sri Lanka.