Mitchell Starc has sent an ominous warning to England only weeks out from the start of the Ashes with a stunning hat-trick for New South Wales on day three of its Sheffield Shield match against Western Australia.
Starc sent down three consecutive yorkers to bowl Jason Behrendoff (20), trap David Moody (0) LBW and rattle the stumps of Simon Mackin (0) to dismiss the Warriors for 176 in reply to the Blues' first innings of 270 at Sydney's Hurstville Oval.
The Australia quick finished with the figures of 4-56, having also picked up the wicket of Jonathan Wells for 1 with his second delivery of the day.
His return continues the hot form he has shown in the Sheffield Shield with the first Ashes Test getting underway in Brisbane on November 23.
Starc was devastating for the Blues in their opening Shield match against South Australia at Adelaide Oval late last month when he claimed a 10-wicket haul for the match, including a second-innings return of 8-73.
He already has 14 wickets from three Shield innings at an average of 12.50.
Starc is set to suit up for Australia alongside fellow Blues pacemen Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, who claimed 3-24 and 2-31 respectively against the Warriors.
Australia spinner Nathan Lyon also chipped in with the ball for the Blues with 1-39.
England opened its tour with a draw in the two-day match against a Western Australia XI at the WACA ground in Perth.
The tourists now turn their attention to the four-day fixture with a Cricket Australia XI in Adelaide beginning on Wednesday.
