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Starc has a lot to learn: Davo

Cricket legend Alan Davidson says he can't see any problem with fellow left-arm quicks Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc sharing the new ball.

Australia's Mitchell Starc
Cricket legend Alan Davidson says left-arm quick Mitchell Starc has still got a lot to learn. (AAP)

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Source: AAP


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The prince of Australian left-arm pacemen, Alan Davidson, says Mitchell Starc has still got a lot to learn but has enormous natural talent.

Davidson is happy to see Starc and fellow leftie Mitchell Johnson sharing the new ball, citing a successful precedent from his own playing days.

Johnson and Starc have opened the bowling in Australia's last two Tests, both of which ended in resounding wins over England and New Zealand.

"I can't see any problem because if you go back to the late 1950s when we went to Africa and the next six years, we were (unofficial) world champions," Davidson told AAP.

"The opening pair for Australia were Ian Meckiff and myself and we were both left handers, so there's nothing wrong with having two left-armers to open the bowling."

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Davidson took 186 wickets at the stunning average of 20.53, claiming 14 five-wicket hauls in 44 Tests from 1953-63.

Although he may be in the twilight of his Test career, 34-year-old Johnson is Australia's all-time leading Test left arm wicket-taker on 310, putting him alongside right-arm quick Brett Lee into joint fourth on the overall national list.

He picked up four wickets against the Kiwis in Brisbane and has an impressive Test career strike rate of a wicket every 51 balls.

Starc 25, has performed better in one-day cricket than Tests so far and has a slightly higher average and strike rate than Johnson but picked up six scalps in Brisbane.

"Mitchell Starc has has still got a lot to learn but he's got enormous natural talent because he's got the ability to move the ball," Davidson said.

"And `Johnno' has been a great warrior. I think that's the best way to describe him.

"He's strong and he'll give his all at all times."


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