Wasim Akram shows believe on Starc

Australia’s lethal left-arm swing bowler Mitchell Starc is “almost there” amongst the world’s best fast bowlers according to Pakistan champion bowler Wasim Akram.

Akram spoke at the unveiling of the new Ricky Ponting and David Boon stands at Blundstone Arena today where he applauded the efforts of Starc and fellow southpaw Mitchell Johnson for their progression and performance with the swinging ball.

“I am very impressed with both of them,” Akram said in Hobart.

“Mitchell Johnson - unbelievable last couple of years and Starc is also looking good, he’s improving ever game.

“The more he plays the better he’ll become. He’s got the pace, he’s got the swing, he’s tall, he’s strong, and he’s the using the crease as well, bowling over the wicket, around the wicket.

“So he’s getting there. The other day he got wickets against India and to me it looks like he’s there now, he’s getting there.

“Bit more hard work and he’ll be up there.”

The 104-Test veteran first spoke to Starc during the 2012-13 New Year’s Test against India, alerting the Australian to the importance of a supple wrist when releasing the ball.

Starc’s ability to conventionally swing the new ball and reverse the old one has reaped 10 wickets at 8.5 runs apiece in Australia’s two Carlton Mid ODI Tri-Series matches.

The 24-year-old was devastating up front in game one against England, trapping Ian Bell and James Taylor with two perfectly pitched inswingers to leave the tourists in tatters at 2-0 after three balls.

Akram also credits Johnson’s re-discovery of that elusive swing for his return to the summit as one of the world most feared bowlers.

Johnson claimed 37 Ashes wickets last summer in a year that saw him regain the fearsome pace and accuracy that had him crowned the ICC Player of the Year.

“Mitchell Starc’s natural swing is inswing. Johnson has learned (how to swing the ball) in the last couple of years, that’s why he’s been so consistent and so lethal because of his pace.

“145-150(kph) clocking every time. It shows the fitness of the man as well.”

Australia comfortable victory in tri-series opener

David Warner’s first one-day international century in almost three years has guided Australia to a three-wicket, bonus point win over England in the first Carlton Mid ODI Tri-Series match at the SCG.

Warner’s 127 from 115 balls was his first since March 2012 as Australia chased down England's 234 all out with 61 balls to spare to secure five competition points.

The win was set up by Australia’s new ball attack which ripped the tourists’ top order apart, with Mitchell Starc picking up two wickets in the first three balls of the match to finish with figures of 4-42 from 8.5 overs.

England recovered from the horror start thanks to Eoin Morgan’s first hundred as the full-time 50-over captain, scoring 121 off 136 balls to give his bowlers a respectable total to bowl to.

England’s leading ODI run-scorer in 2014 Joe Root lasted 15 balls before a thick outside off the pace of Pat Cummins found Shane Watson’s safe hands at first slip to reduce the visitors to 3-12 inside four overs.

More trouble would follow when Moeen Ali succumbed to George Bailey’s trap at deep point to go for 22 from 21 balls and sink England to 4-33.

Amidst the carnage, Morgan established a steely presence at the crease, and in tandem with Ravi Bopara saw England through the mandatory 10-over power play the drinks break.

With the players rehydrated and the lacquer all but gone from the pair of white kookaburras, Bailey turned to his specialist spinner Doherty, who wasted no time in removing Bopara at backward point to continue the visitors’ decline.

Morgan found an ally in wicketkeeper Jos Buttler as the pair worked singles, ran hard for twos and defied Bailey’s attempts to break through and expose England’s lengthy tail.

It would be more than 14 overs in between boundaries for the tourists, but the six that broke the dought brought up Morgan’s fifty in the first over of the batting powerplay.

The batting powerplay is designed to provide batsmen a five-over block to hit out before the obligatory final stages blitzkrieg, but invariably produces wickets. That trend continued when England’s rear guard partnership of 67 was broken by James Faulkner who removed Buttler to a good catch by David Warner at deep point.

As Morgan pushed England towards 200 and his own century, Woakes offered Steve Smith arguably the easiest catch of his blossoming career at mid-wicket, and the 25-year-old obliged to send the fast bowler on his way for eight.

Twelve runs off Glenn Maxwell’s sixth over had Morgan within one blow of reaching his seventh ODI ton, and two overs later a lofted drive over cover for four got him to triple-figures from 127 deliveries.

Another fifty-run stand came in flash between Morgan in Jordan before the fast bowler picked out Maxwell in the deep to go for 17, and two lusty blows and 10 runs later, Morgan’s valiant knock came to an end to give Starc his third wicket, before wrapping up the innings with Steve Finn first ball.

While Warner’s Test form has reached new heights over the past 18 months, his form in the 50-over format has been forgettable.

But the dynamic left-hander set about fixing his one-day dilemma in the first match of 2015 by launching at the English attack with the fearless stroke play that’s made him one of the most feared batsman in Test cricket.

Six boundaries in the first 10 overs had Warner on his way, but his opening partner Aaron Finch failed to match his partner’s exuberance, chopping Woakes on for 15 off 18 balls.

Warner was joined by the broad shoulders of Watson in the middle, and after a clip and cut for four each, Watson’s uneasy time with the blade was prolonged when he top edged Jordan to be caught short of the square leg boundary for 16.

At one stage the 25-year-old was nine off 26 balls, but in a blink of an eye, the blond batsman was 33 off 40 and had Australia in the box seat to take out game one of the seven-match tri-series.

But as Warner closed in on his hundred, an uncharacteristic rush of blood by Smith saw him run past an Ali off-break to be bowled for 37.

Skipper Bailey survived a strong appeal for lbw that on replay was proven adjacent, but his luck ran out on 10 when he skied Woakes to Buttler when 36 runs were needed with 82 balls remaining.

The rub of the green went England’s way three balls later when Maxwell was judged to have edged Woakes behind, but this time it was Hot Spot that found the Victorian not guilty of hitting the ball.

However, any hope of a miracle England victory was dashed when Brad Haddin belted three consecutive boundaries to have not only the win secured, but a bonus point in their sights.

Striving for the necessary quick finish for the extra competition point, Warner hit Woakes for a brace of boundaries before the hunt for a third found Bell at point to end his blockbuster knock on 127.

A mix up saw Haddin run out for 16, leaving Faulkner – Australia’s modern Michael Bevan – to ice the game and deliver the bonus point.

Australia’s next match is against India on Sunday in Melbourne, while England travel to Brisbane to take on MS Dhoni’s men on Tuesday.

Australia XI: George Bailey (c), Aaron Finch, David Warner, Shane Watson, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Brad Haddin, James Faulkner, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Xavier Doherty.

England XI: Eoin Morgan (c), Moeen Ali, Ian Bell, James Taylor, Joe Root, Ravi Bopara, Jos Buttler, Chris Woakes, Chris Jordan, Stuart Broad, Steve Finn.