Mitchell Starc has sent a resounding message to Australian selectors with another four wickets to put NSW on the verge of a Sheffield Shield victory over Tasmania.
Fresh from a five-wicket haul in the first innings, Starc has figures of 4-20 in the second at stumps on day three with Tasmania 9-132 and leading by just 36 runs.
Dropped for all but one of the five Ashes Test in England, Starc is favoured to reclaim his spot from Peter Siddle for next month’s first Test against Pakistan.
And he has done his chances no harm at Sydney’s Drummoyne Oval, bowling fast and with great control in his 19 overs on Sunday.
The left-armer got the opening wicket of Alex Doolan caught at point for seven in his third over, before trapping Jordan Silk lbw on the back foot for 28.
He later sent lower-order batsman Alex Pyecroft packing for four with one of his dangerous yorkers, and then had Sam Rainbird caught behind with one that reversed.
The match figures marked his best bowling in a match since the Canberra Test against Sri Lanka in February, and come at a crucial time with Australia’s fast-bowling stocks booming.
Sean Abbott also picked up two wickets for the Blues, including the scalp of Test captain Tim Paine to a smart catch to Moises Henriques at square leg.
Matt Wade offered the only real resistance for Tasmania, with his 40 coming from 113 balls before Abbott had him edging one outside off stump.
It comes after Henriques and Steve Smith gave NSW the advantage on day two, both scoring hundreds in their total of 364.
Young Tasmanian quick Riley Meredith dismissed them both on Sunday morning as part of his first five-wicket haul. finishing with figures of 5-98.
Meredith, who was backed by Shane Warne for a World Cup spot last summer, at one stage took three wickets in four balls including a yorker to bowl Smith off his boots.
Meanwhile Test aspirant Kurtis Patterson continues to battle a quad injury that is affecting his hopes of a recall.
The left-hander batted at No.11 with a runner for NSW, but still looked uncomfortable with the injury as he scored an unbeaten 16.