'Building on that lead is a positive position to be in' - Mitchell Starc confident of Australia's chances in ongoing Lord's Test

Australian paceman Mitchell Starc conveyed his satisfaction with the team's performance on Day 3, emphasizing the positive outcome of dismissing the English side and securing a substantial lead. By the day's end, Australia had amassed a commanding lead of 221 runs over England.

Starc highlighted Australia's successful bowling efforts and commended the batters for their composure during the second innings. Notably, Australia's opener, Usman Khawaja, played an impressive unbeaten half-century, contributing to their total of 130 runs for two wickets on Day three.

Starc acknowledged the early conclusion of the day's play but viewed it as a highly advantageous morning for Australia. The team adeptly capitalized on their early breakthroughs, displaying commendable bowling skills and unwavering resilience in the face of mounting pressure which has placed Australia in a favorable position, according to Starc's assessment.

“It's a shame it finished early today but it was a really positive morning for us to bowl them out and have a bit of a lead. Our top order capitalized on that early, there was some good bowling, pressure built, but our guys got through that. Building on that lead is a positive position to be in,” Starc said in an interview with BBC Sport.

Furthermore, Starc acknowledged Australia's strategic focus on securing early wickets on Day 3. The team's plans aligned perfectly with their fortunes, as England were bowled out for 325 runs, having started the day at 278 for 4 as they had a weaker tail-end batting, especially in the absence of Moeen Ali.

"Obviously, they have a longer tail now as Moeen Ali is not playing. We were aware of the fact that if we could dismiss a few of Australia's batters early on, things might go as they did. We were fortunate that is how things worked out for us. We had a nice morning because there was a good probability of a significant partnership from Australia if we hadn't," he added.

Nathan Lyon not looking in too much comfort at the minute: Starc

Nathan Lyon's injury casts doubt on his return for the Ashes 2023 series. Starc expressed concern over Lyon's discomfort and uncertain availability while acknowledging his consistent presence and exceptional skills in the team.

“He’s not looking in too much comfort at the minute which is a shame. He's been quite robust getting in the team for us, obviously 100 Tests in a row. It should not take too long, I hope. Since he is currently on crutches, I'm not sure if he will return to the series. Disappointing for him and for us, he's a quality performer,” said Starc.

Unfortunately, rain spoiled Day 3, forcing an early end to the day's play. With Australia positioned at 130 for 2 wickets, they held a commanding lead of 221 runs over England. The English side now faces an uphill battle to overcome this significant deficit in the remaining days of the match.