Starc returns as Australia bat first in Manchester

Paceman Mitchell Starc will play his first Test of this Ashes series, starting in Manchester tonight, after edging out Peter Siddle to win a spot in Australia’s side for the fourth Test.

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England XI: Rory Burns, Joe Denly, Joe Root (c), Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Jos Buttler, Craig Overton, Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad, Jack Leach

Australia XI: David Warner, Marcus Harris, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Matt Wade, Tim Paine (c, wk), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

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But the left-armer will have to wait a little longer for his first taste of Test cricket in seven months after Australia's skipper Tim Paine won the toss and elected to bat first at Old Trafford.

Starc was left out of the opening three Tests of the series but returns here in place of James Pattinson, who played the third Test at Headingley, and will partner state teammates Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon in a four-man bowling attack.

Starc and Siddle starred in last week's tour match in Derby – the left-armer taking 7-85 from 26.4 overs and the Victorian 3-32 from 16 – but the NSW quick has got the nod.

"Very good toss to win. The wicket looks really dry, like a pretty good batting wicket," Paine said.

"The outfield is really wet as well, so we'll look to get some runs and put them under pressure.

"He (Starc) has been working really hard on things he needed to improve to be successful in English conditions. We think the conditions here will suit him, be a bit harder and quicker, at some stage he'll let the hand brake off."

Starc’s inclusion is one of two changes to Australia’s XI from their heartbreaking one-wicket loss in Leeds, with Usman Khawaja making way for the return of Steve Smith.

Khawaja has scored 122 runs in six innings this Ashes campaign and with Smith reclaiming his place in the side having recovered from the concussion he suffered at Lord's, a batsman had to go.

And despite Khawaja’s experience at the highest level, he has been left out.

"Usman's obviously a key player in our side batting at No.3 and he hasn't scored the runs he or we would like," Paine said.

"With Steve Smith coming back it was a tough decision to make on Usman but we think he's still got a lot of cricket left in him.

"He's had a very good Test record over his career and we expect that he will bounce back pretty strongly."

Retaining his place over Khawaja is opener Marcus Harris, who made his Ashes debut at Headingley and scored 8 and 19 in the thrilling one-wicket loss.

With Khawaja out, Paine confirmed Marnus Labuschagne will shift up the order to fill the vacancy at No.3 and allow Smith to reoccupy his favoured position at second-drop.

Skipper Joe Root confirmed England’s XI on match eve, with Craig Overton coming into the side in place of Chris Woakes, while Jason Roy has been replaced as opener by Joe Denly, with Roy shifting down into the middle order.

England XI: Rory Burns, Joe Denly, Joe Root (c), Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Jos Buttler, Craig Overton, Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad, Jack Leach

Australia XI: David Warner, Marcus Harris, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Matt Wade, Tim Paine (c, wk), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

2019 Qantas Ashes Tour of England

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c), Cameron Bancroft, Pat Cummins, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner.

England squad: Joe Root (c), Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jack Leach, Craig Overton, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes (vc), Chris Woakes.

First Test: Australia won by 251 runs at Edgbaston

Second Test: Match drawn at Lord's

Third Test: England won by one wicket at Headingley

Fourth Test: September 4-8, Old Trafford

Fifth Test: September 12-16, The Oval