He's become the spearhead of Australia's Test attack but Pat Cummins insists the out-of-sorts Mitchell Starc and rookie Jhye Richardson should keep the new ball ahead of him in Canberra.
Cummins is clearly Australia's in-form pace bowler, with his 10-wicket haul in Brisbane against Sri Lanka taking his wickets tally for the summer to 24 at an average of 18.79.
That's nine more than any other Aussie quick, with Starc's 15 the next best at 36.46. The injured Josh Hazlewood collected 13 wickets at 30.61 against India.
Starc's lack of form has been particularly worrying with a wayward 0-56 in the second-innings rout at the Gabba.
It prompted former Australian quick Brett Lee to suggest Cummins should take the new ball with Richardson for the second Test, rather than Starc.
Crucially three of Cummins' second-innings wickets in Brisbane came with a ball that was between just six and 10 overs old, while Starc had just one over with the third new Kookaburra in Sydney against India before Cummins took over.
"The harder the ball is, especially (in Brisbane on Friday) night when the ball was swinging around, I love to get the ball in my hands in those times," Cummins said.
"I'm always really happy to come on, itching to get the ball in my hand, but I am happy to wait a few overs.
"I think overall the new-ball bowlers always do a great job ... when Starcy is on you just feel like he is going to rip through.
"You saw him against India, both their openers (KL Rahul and Murali Vijay) got dropped because we start off really well with the new ball."
Starc took his 200th Test wicket in Brisbane but otherwise endured a difficult three days.
A number of balls sprayed wide of the stumps, while he also copped some treatment late in the second innings from Sri Lanka's tailenders to add to his frustrations.
The 28-year-old has worked hard on his wrist position in recent weeks with bowling coach David Saker, as well as his run up.
Australia are also confident the ball could reverse more at Manuka Oval, something that would definitely play into Starc's hands given his lethalness when the ball swings late.
"I think the good thing is he is bowling really fast. So, his rhythm is mostly there," Cummins said.
"I know he has tried to change a couple of things in his run up and trying to get his feet aligned but he is not far away.
"He has bowled some really good spells for us.
"The thing with Starcy, you always feel he is going to break open the game at any point."
