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The Ashes: Mitchell Starc in family battle with Olympic-chasing high-jumper brother and Ashes-winning wife

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MITCHELL STARC, the fast bowler ready to inflict more pain on England, is part of an incredible sporting family.

His wife is Alyssa Healy, niece of the great former wicketkeeper Ian Healy and a key member of the Aussie team that destroyed England in the women’s Ashes.

Legendary seamer Mitchell Starc is revving up for a recall in the Second Test after seeing Australia cruise home in the Ashes opener
Legendary seamer Mitchell Starc is revving up for a recall in the Second Test after seeing Australia cruise home in the Ashes opener
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Mitchell Starc practices in the nets - as he hopes to give England's batsmen a taste of something much more fierce
Mitchell Starc practices in the nets – as he hopes to give England’s batsmen a taste of something much more fierce at Lord’s
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And Starc’s brother, Brandon, is the Commonwealth Games high jump champion with dreams of winning a medal in next year’s Olympics in Japan.

As for Mitchell . . . well, he has been leading wicket-taker at the last two World Cups and is a 90mph crusher of toes and shatterer of stumps.

After missing Australia’s First Test win, Starc, 29, is poised to return for Chapter II of The Ashes story at Lord’s on Wednesday.

He loves playing at the Home of Cricket and will aim to unleash more of his trademark yorkers.

Starc sent down many inch-perfect balls during the World Cup and none better than the one which speared through Ben Stokes’ defences in the group game at Lord’s.

It was one of 27 wickets taken by Starc in the tournament.

England had the last laugh beating their arch-rivals in the semi- final and winning that memorable, final against New Zealand.

‘MY WIFE BATS BETTER’

Starc is now 100 per cent recovered from a knee twinge and his bowling at Worcester last week suggests he has re-adjusted from white ball to red ball cricket.

In fact, when it comes to the ruthless removal of batters, there is only one person he would go easy on — his wife.

She is the wicketkeeper and ultra-aggressive opener in the brilliant Aussie team and now their Ashes is over, she is playing for Yorkshire Diamonds in the Kia Super League.

Starc said: “There was a time maybe five or six years ago when I was coming back from a stress fracture of the back and bowling off a few steps.

“Alyssa wanted to go in the nets and have a hit. But I definitely haven’t bowled full tilt to her. I don’t have the confidence to do that — I don’t want to hurt my wife!

“I’m not saying she couldn’t handle it but I’d be worried sending them down too quickly! She’s doing well enough smacking around a few of the women fast bowlers.

“We don’t talk much about cricket and can’t really compare wicketkeeping and fast bowling.

“And she’s a bit better with the bat than me! There’s not too much cricket when we’re together, we try to get out on the golf course.”

Aussie paceman Mitchell Starc warms up for a possible return in the Second Test, meaning England might have to face his 90mph barrage
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Starc attempted the high jump at school and even learned the Fosbury Flop, the technique which takes jumpers over the bar with their back to the floor.

He added: “I did a little at high school as part of the athletics calendar.

“I pretty much stopped when I began landing on my neck and thought it probably wasn’t a great thing.

“I got to about 1.85metres or something like that. But wasn’t able to get over the bar in the same way Brandon does. He must have got all the springs in his legs.

“He’s actually a fraction shorter than me but he’s very springy, a fair bit lighter and can obviously get over a bar a lot higher.

‘GREAT SQUAD’

“But Brandon can’t bowl as quick as me! We played some cricket together though he’s four years younger.

“I remember having a few batting partnerships but he ended up sticking with athletics.

“For him to win gold in a Commonwealth Games probably comes second only to his ambitions of an Olympic medal.

“Hopefully, he can achieve that in Tokyo next year. To see my younger brother win that gold medal was unbelievable, really.”

Australia are already 1-0 up in The Ashes and, with the likes of Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, James Pattinson and Peter Siddle, their fast bowling cupboard is packed full of talent.

Starc will surely add to his 211 Test wickets in the next few weeks, perhaps with more deadly yorkers.

He said: “I’ve worked a lot on the yorker over the years. It is a big part of my white ball game and plays a part in red ball cricket, too, at times.

“I don’t know when I’ll be  playing in The Ashes but we have a great squad of fast bowlers.

“We cover all the bases. I support whoever is chosen and know they will do a great job.”

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