Starc has mixed feelings about resting

Aussie paceman Mitchell Starc says it's been frustrating to skip two games in the ODI tri-series but he understands the upside to being carefully managed.

Australian cricketer Mitchell Starc

Aussie paceman Mitchell Starc says it's been frustrating to skip two games in the ODI tri-series. (AAP)

Rest remains a dirty word for Mitchell Starc but Australia's spearhead is slowly getting used to following medicos' orders.

Starc spent six months on the sidelines after undergoing ankle surgery, returning a fortnight ago when Australia faced West Indies in their ODI tri-series opener in Guyana.

The left-armer has played one ODI since, with management forcing him to skip two matches during the series.

They have been the two games Australia have lost in the tournament.

Starc can understand why officials are taking a conservative approach, given his lack of match fitness and the side's busy upcoming schedule.

However, the 26-year-old is craving time in the middle as he attempts to rediscover his potent career-best form of 2015.

"Being in one game and being out the next, it's very different bowling in the nets compared to out in the middle," Starc said in Barbados, where he is set to return and face South Africa at 3am AEST on Monday.

"It can be a little bit frustrating.

"I'd love to play every game just to have that rhythm and consistent cricket.

"That's something I did over the past 12 months before I got injured, I was playing consistently and it was showing in my performances.

"But I've got to look at the bigger picture and there's a lot to come in the next six months."

In the early stages of his career, Starc would be furious if he was left out of an XI for reasons other than form.

The 2012 Boxing Day Test was a prime example.

Now he is starting to understand the upside to being carefully managed.

"I'm getting used to being told what to do," Starc said.

"It'd be really nice to play every single game.

"But the sheer amount of cricket we play these days, if you play every game you're going to break down at some point so you have to be a little bit smarter about it.

"I'll stick by the plan and stick by what the medicos tell me to do ... I don't have too much of a say in it."

The opening two legs of the tournament have been played on slow-and-low surfaces in Guyana and St Kitts.

Kensington Oval generally offers more assistance for pacemen and Starc was happy to see some grass on the wicket on Saturday morning (AEST).

"There's a nice breeze across the ground so hopefully we can get a few to swing around and make the batsmen jump a bit," he said.

All three sides have banked two wins and remain in the mix for the June 26 final.

"We've got to win two to make sure we're in there," Starc said.

"It's been pretty close and I'm sure it'll continue to be so for the rest of the series."


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Source: AAP



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