Australia to give debut to Faulkner, recall Starc

Australia captain Michael Clarke today said the tourists would give a Test debut to fast-bowling all-rounder James Faulkner and recall Mitchell Starc as they sought a consolation win in the Ashes finale.
"I do have a team. We have two changes. Jackson Bird is out and Usman Khawaja is out so Mitchell Starc comes in and James Faulkner makes his debut," Clarke told reporters at The Oval today, the day before the match at the south London ground.
The 23-year-old Faulkner replaces out-of-form batsman Khawaja, who averaged just 19 in three successive Tests, after Australia coach Darren Lehmann warned his failing top-order their places were in danger following the team's latest collapse, which helped England to a 74-run win in the fourth Test at Durham and an unbeatable 3-0 series lead.

Tasmania's Faulkner, a left-arm fast-medium bowler and right-hand batsman, has played eight one-day internationals and three Twenty20s but has yet to score a hundred at any level of senior domestic or international cricket.
"He is a fighter and a competitor and although he might not look the best all the time, he will do his best to stay out there and help his partner make a hundred or bat with the tail to help them through," Clarke said.
"The better conditions there are for batting, the better bowler he is. I think he is the right character for this team and you will see how much talent he's got in this Test match."

All-rounder Shane Watson, who started the series as an opener before moving to number six, is now set to bat in the number three position previously occupied by Khawaja.

Meanwhile left-arm quick Starc's curious tour of alternate Tests continued with this latest recall.
Starc played in Australia's 14-run first Ashes Test defeat at Trent Bridge, was dropped for the 347-run second Test loss at Lord's only to be recalled again for the drawn third Test at Old Trafford and left out once more at Durham.
But he has now got his chance again after paceman Bird failed to impress in the fourth Test.