Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting said that Mitchell Starc will need to do something special to secure his place in the playing XI for the upcoming first Test against Pakistan. In the Ashes, Starc played only one match for the team and managed to take six wickets.

“I absolutely love everything that Mitchell Starc brings to the table. But at the same time, they have been reluctant to play him in the last few series. He only played the one Ashes Test match and he did okay in that game,” cricket.com.au quoted Ponting as saying. “I think Starc will have to do something pretty special at training to be a part of that team.”

Ricky Ponting further brought up James Pattinson’s record and said the record will speak for her when it comes to selection.

“Pattinson’s got a good record in Brisbane as well. That’s the other thing that might go in his favour. At a place where the ball does swing a bit, he generally pitches it up and takes it away from the right-handers,” he said. “The reluctance to play Starc in the past has been that he has generally leaked runs,” he added.

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The former captain also praised Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins for not giving many runs and being consistent for a long period.

“What we know with Hazlewood and Cummins is they are not leaking runs and they have been outstanding for a long time now. Not only are they getting guys out, but they are making it harder to score as well,” Ponting said.

Australia and Pakistan will face each other for two Tests and the second match of the series will be a day-night Test at Adelaide.

Australia Squad: Tim Paine (Captain), Cameron Bancroft, Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner.