“If I’m fit I’d like to play all the games,” Starc said, ahead of his team’s clash against Bangladesh on June 20. “It’s not up to me but it’s the World Cup. I think you’ve got to play your best XI, depending on conditions and the team we play. I definitely won’t be putting my hand up to rest.”

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Starc has featured in just one World Cup edition before, but is already Australia’s second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament’s history, only behind overall leader Glenn McGrath, his compatriot. In the 2015 World Cup, he ended as the joint-leading wicket-taker, and has continued his stellar form this year, currently topping the charts with 13 wickets in five games.

Against West Indies, Starc’s 5-46 helped set up a 15-run win, with the left-arm pacer claiming the last four wickets of the innings. He acknowledged the challenge of delivering in the final overs, a facet of his bowling that Starc has actively prepared for and developed over a period of time.

[caption id=”attachment_109251″ align=”alignnone” width=”800″] Starc impressed against the West Indies with a five-wicket haul[/caption]

“I do enjoy the challenge. It’s the challenge at the death, that challenge of trying to win a game for your team or trying to defend a title, I really enjoy that. It’s something I work really hard at and it’s been a role I’ve done for a long time.”

While he averages 19.15 with the ball in this edition, his economy has been 5.41, a touch higher compared to his career figures of 4.99. “My economy rate might be higher than others, but I’m there to make breakthroughs for the team,” Starc said.

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Fitness-wise, Starc has done well to recuperate in time for Australia’s title defence, having played no ODIs this year before their first World Cup 2019 game. He missed Australia’s limited-overs tour of India, in February, due to a pectoral tear, and did not feature in the 2019 IPL. He returned in time for the marquee tournament, and has been in peak form since, crediting a simplified approach for his white-ball exploits.

“Test cricket is still the pinnacle for me but the fact I’ve kept it pretty simple in terms of my gameplay for white-ball cricket has held me in good stead through World Cups.”