Ryan Harris reckons Mitchell Starc can do what Mitchell Johnson did in 2014-15

According to former Australian fast bowler Ryan Harris, the spirit of Mitchell Johnson could return to haunt the England’s batsmen in the upcoming Ashes in the form of another left-arm paceman, Mitchell Starc. In Ashes 2013-14, Johnson, in inspired form, scalped 37 wickets at an astonishing average of 13.97. Johnson’s Ashes demolition job in the 2013-14 series Down Under left mental scars on a number of the visiting batsmen and Starc would be aiming to do the same.

The 27-year-old who now the spearhead of the Aussie pace battery, had a similar volatile mix of pace, swing and bounce to be a Johnson-style wrecking ball in the series that starts in Brisbane next week Harris feels. The 27-year-old has also been in ominous form, capturing 17 wickets for New South Wales in his two Sheffield Shield warm-up matches.

“He’s definitely got it in him. I’ve just spent some time with him. He’s bowling fast,” Harris told Reuters in an interview from Brisbane. “He probably had a little bit of an issue over the last few months with not swinging the ball as much as he’d like. But giving him that red ball, he’s probably as consistent as I’ve seen him for a while as well,” he added.

Starc tuned up for this winter’s contest by becoming the first man ever to claim two hat-tricks in the same Sheffield Shield match, giving a glimpse of what is in store.

“He’s got the pace of Johnson, he moves it both ways, exactly like Johnson does, and doesn’t even know he’s doing it.” He’s also got that brutal yorker that he can pull out when he wants. So, I’d love to see that happen again, someone rip through the English again and put a bit of fear in the back of their minds,” Harris further stated.

Interestingly, just days ago Starc’s team-mate and partner with the ball, Pat Cummins expressed his desire to emulate what Johnson did in the 2013-14 series. However, Harris has cautioned the bowlers to focus on each other.

“To be successful you’ve got to be prepared to bowl and not necessarily take the glory but just help your mate out down the other end,” he added. “If they bowl in those partnerships, they’ll get the rewards. It is an exciting attack.”