Cricket: Starc reality - We needed to bowl

"We weren't keen at all for a rest," Starc said. Photo / Photosport

Plenty of pundits regarded Australia's ODI series against the Black Caps as a needless distraction. Mitchell Starc begs to differ.

The transtasman series, which the hosts won 3-0, fell between Australia's three-test series against South Africa and Pakistan. The crowded schedule meant five members of the test squad missed a rare chance for a first-class game before a Sheffield Shield hiatus to accommodate the Big Bash League.

But Starc and Josh Hazlewood would most likely have been rested last week, if available for the pink-ball shield round. Instead, Australia's new-ball pairing were granted their wish of playing all three 50-over contests against New Zealand. Starc, having craved overs since returning from a freak training accident that left the spearhead with 30 stitches in his left leg, was thrilled.

"We weren't keen at all for a rest," Starc said ahead of Australia's day-night test against Pakistan starting in Brisbane on Thursday.

"Bowling in games is much better than bowling in the nets. To get three solid games against a quality team ... and come away 3-0 was great. We were both happy to play those three games ... it's been a pretty good 10 days."

Selectors could easily have rested the pair, both overworked in last month's lopsided test losses to South Africa in Perth and Hobart, from last Friday's MCG dead rubber.

Instead, they listened to the pacemen's pleas.

"Obviously we're in those conversations more so than we used to be, which is great," Starc said.

He and Hazlewood were forced to miss Australia's ODI tour of South Africa in October because of workload concerns.

He intended some work in the gym during the time off but instead spent most of it in a knee brace, racing the clock to be fit for the first test against South Africa.

"I've still got some way to come. "That consistency is still yet to come back."

- AAP