Age no barrier for rampant Australia but future uncertain / Photo: Saeed KHAN - AFP
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Age no barrier for rampant Australia but future uncertain
Ashes hero Mitchell Starc insists age is just a number after Australia's 4-1 thumping of England, but the future of the "Dad's Army" is uncertain with a core of players in their mid-30s.
Man-of-the-series Starc, 35, was exceptional in leading the home attack in all five Tests, bowling 153 overs and bagging 31 wickets -- more than anyone else.
He was ably supported by ever-reliable fellow seamer Scott Boland aged 36 while Steve Smith, 35, scored a 13th Ashes century and led them to victory as stand-in captain.
Fast bowler Michael Neser, 35, also played a key role, as did Travis Head (32) and Alex Carey (34).
It made a mockery of English taunts that Australia's "Dad's Army" -- as they were branded before a ball was bowled -- was over the hill.
Starc said after their five-wicket win in the final Test in Sydney on Thursday that "there's so much made about (the team's) age profile".
"I think at times through this series that experience has been a really good thing," he said.
"We've seen guys prove that if you're still playing your role or if you're still good enough, it shouldn't matter how old you are.
"Our group do that really well and tailor programmes or preparation for that. And we've seen the results this year."
But with the bulk of Australia's triumphant Ashes squad on the wrong side of 30, what happens next for some of their biggest stars is unclear.
Opener Usman Khawaja saw the writing on the wall after being dropped mid-series aged 39 and announced his retirement, while injury clouds have circled fellow stalwarts Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins.
Hazlewood (hamstring and Achilles) missed the entire series, Cummins (back) managed just one Test and veteran spinner Lyon (hamstring) played only a bit-part role, dropped for the second Test and injured in the third.
Australia's next Tests are not until August, when they host Bangladesh, but none of the ageing core has given any indication they plan to up stumps anytime soon.
There are question marks about the quality of the talent coming through after them.
After that is a busy period culminating in a five-Test tour of India from late January 2027, then the 150th anniversary Test against England in Melbourne, before a return Ashes series later that year.
- One more Ashes? -
Playing India away and winning a first Test series in England since 2001 is a bucket-list item for players such as Starc and Smith.
"I'd love to go... but we've got plenty of cricket before then," Starc said, adding: "Part of the reason I gave away the T20 stuff was trying to prolong my Test career."
If fit, Cummins is a near-certainty to return as captain and lead the team to India and England while Lyon has indicated he too wants to be part of another Ashes, when he will be 39.
Head and Carey are in the form of their lives and going nowhere, while Marnus Labuschagne is another sure to keep going.
Smith is taking a series-by-series approach.
"I'm sure everyone's excited to go there and try and win the Ashes," Smith said. "It's something that I certainly haven't done in my career and something I'd like to tick off.
"Whether I get there or not, it's a different question."
While most of the team contributed to what Smith said was "a collective effort" in winning the Ashes, questions will be asked over the future of underperforming opener Jake Weatherald and allrounder Cameron Green.
Looking to the future, the likes of Campbell Kellaway, Matt Renshaw and Nathan McSweeney are other top-order options.
Todd Murphy is Lyon's understudy and young quick Fergus O'Neill could be a fast-bowling contender, along with Jhye Richardson and Lance Morris.
L.M.Domiano--LDdC
