Cricket: Starc singles out Williamson as prized scalp

New Zealand Black Caps player Kane Williamson. Photo / Brett Phibbs.

His first over ball to dismiss Brendon McCullum in the World Cup final was a decisive moment, but Australian quick Mitchell Starc today singled out Kane Williamson as the most prized scalp ahead of the test series starting on Thursday.

The world's seventh-ranked test batsmen looms as a key figure for New Zealand if they are to match expectations of pushing Australia hard, or even beat them, in the series.

In his last nine test innings, Williamson is averaging 107, with an unbeaten double century, plus two other hundreds.

McCullum was the key wicket in the cup final in Melbourne in March, but Starc is thinking of Williamson.

Asked if he rated McCullum as the most valuable wicket for the Australian bowlers to get early, Starc demurred.

''I don' think so," the tall left armer said.

''He looks to take the game on and play that aggressive cricket that he does with the white ball.

''But I still think Kane Williamson is their No 1.

''He can bat for a long time and has probably scored a lot of their runs in the last little bit.

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''Those two guys are definitely the big guns at the top, but for me it's Williamson who has done the most damage for them for a long time."

Starc, part of Australia's vaunted two-pronged left arm pace attack along with Mitchell Johnson, is impressed by what New Zealand have achieved in the test arena of late, unbeaten in their last seven series.

''They've played some fantastic cricket over the last 12-18 months. They play an aggressive brand of cricket which I definitely know the Australian team do as well.

''Knowing our home conditions I'm very confident in the way we can perform. It's going to be a very exciting series to be part of, and to view as well. They'll definitely put up more of a challenge than they have at times in the past."