With 19 wickets falling \u2014 the most ever on day one of an Ashes series \u2014 Starc\u2019s spell stood out as the defining performance of the day, and he insisted he was simply doing the job that has always been expected of him.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI mean, it\u2019s always the plan, isn\u2019t it? But it doesn\u2019t always happen that way,\u201d Starc said. \u201cI\u2019ve just been pretty fortunate to have done it a few times. But it\u2019s always been my role to be aggressive, look for wickets. I\u2019ve never been one to worry about economy rates. My role is to go looking for wickets, especially with the new ball, and hopefully make inroads into the opposition.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Starc\u2019s performance came at a time when Australia are missing two of their biggest bowling assets \u2014 captain Pat Cummins (back) and Josh Hazlewood (hamstring). But the 101-Test veteran said the responsibility had not weighed on him.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cActually, strangely, I\u2019ve been quite calm all week, even when we got to the ground,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s unfortunate that we haven\u2019t got Josh and Pat with us, but we still have a fair bit of experience in the bowling attack.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
With Australia still trailing by 49 runs and only one wicket in hand, the hosts face a steep challenge on day two. Starc acknowledged that he might need to produce more magic to keep Australia alive in the contest, but he refused to blame the pitch for the dramatic collapse on both sides.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cTwo pretty good bowling attacks. Credit to both,\u201d he said. \u201cI mean, I thought we bowled pretty well, and I thought they bowled pretty nicely. So I think it\u2019s just one of those days where you get two attacks that are on the money for the whole day, and we sit here with 19 wickets down.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
With Australia still trailing by 49 runs and only one wicket in hand, the hosts face a steep challenge on day two. Starc acknowledged that he might need to produce more magic to keep Australia alive in the contest, but he refused to blame the pitch for the dramatic collapse on both sides.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cBut it\u2019s two innings of cricket and a long time left in this series,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n