Starc's unbeaten 46 extends Australia's lead to 116 on Day 3 of 2nd Ashes test

The leading bowler in the series so far with 16 wickets — he took a 10-wicket haul in Australia's series-opening win at Perth — Starc went into bat in the fourth over Saturday at the end of a 54-run seventh-wicket partnership between overnight batters Alex Carey (63) and Michael Neser.

The Australians had resumed at 378-6, a first-innings lead of 44 runs, and Carey quickly raised his 50 with a single off England captain Ben Stokes.

Neser (16) was caught behind later in the same over, and Starc went to the crease with the total at 383-7.

The eighth-wicket pair put on 33 runs, with Starc taking Australia's total past 400 with an attacking boundary against Brydon Carse in the 79th over, before Carey was out in the third over with the new ball.

Carey faced 69 deliveries and hit six boundaries before he was caught behind off Gus Atkinson's bowling.

With Australia at 416-8, the England attack would have been confident of bowling out the tailenders and getting a chance to bat in the bright afternoon sunlight before the first interval.

But in a repeat of Day 2, the English bowlers struggled to get their lengths right consistently, and Starc was more than content to bat for time as he took singles to retain the strike and shield No. 10 Boland from the new ball.

Starc hit back-to-back boundaries against Carse to take the lead past 100.

And he ended the session by hitting the last ball deep into the outfield for three runs to take Australia to 450 and ensure he'll start the middle session on strike.

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