As if anyone needed a reminder, Mitchell Starc proved once again in Brisbane just how super he was.

But the champion left-armer is still human, and his opening spell on Saturday perhaps highlighted just how crucial the injection of two veterans will be.

After resting for only seven overs out of the Queensland heat – having top scored with 77 in Australia’s 511 first innings at the Gabba – Starc’s first spell with the ball showed signs of fatigue.

Mitchell Starc roared to life in the final hour of day three, after his worst opening spell of the series.Credit: Getty Images

England opener Zak Crawley attacked the 35-year-old, whose first three overs went 0-25 – the only time this series he had not claimed a wicket in his first over.

Scott Boland was then brought on, clean bowling Ben Duckett.

Starc eventually roared to life, claiming the huge wickets of Joe Root and Jamie Smith in the last hour of day three.

Those scalps book-ended Boland’s dismissal of Harry Brook, and followed Michael Neser’s caught-and-bowled wickets of Crawley and Ollie Pope, to leave England 6-134 and trailing by 43 runs.

“He’s a special player. He doesn’t like to admit it, but........

© The Sydney Morning Herald