A lively pitch is key for Mitch

MITCHELL Starc yesterday hit the nets like a man ready to end England’s new year’s celebrations in a heartbeat, but Australia are still weighing up the high stakes involved in unleashing their prized spearhead at the SCG.

Steve Smith sat out a training session for possibly the first time since taking over the captaincy but the Australian captain’s stiff back has him in no doubt for a Test where he could join Sir Donald Bradman in Ashes folklore for most hundreds in a series.

However, the decision to give Starc a home Test match in Sydney is not so simple and selectors must be convinced that playing the left- armer would not jeopardise the critical tour of South Africa in March.

Starc’s fate could yet come down to the pitch, with selectors far more likely to back in his fitness if they’re presented with a lively surface they believe will energise their No. 1 weapon, not wear him down and risk further damage to the bruised heel that kept him out on Boxing Day.

Early signs are the SCG surface has a healthy cover- ing of grass, but last night Starc’s status remained uncertain, with Jackson Bird waiting in the wings.

Bowling off his long run for more than half an hour, Starc certainly bowled like a man adamant he is right to go yesterday, as he tore in with bouncers and yorkers amid seemingly positive interactions with medical staff.

Smith will normally hit balls from the moment the team bus arrives to when it leaves, but yesterday he was conspicuous in his absence – although he is set to bat in the nets today.

Fast bowling legend Glenn McGrath – on deck for the 10- year anniversary of the Pink Test – said he understood why the decision was weighing heavily on selectors and admitted he would likely err on the side of caution.

“As a player you want to play every game, you really only think about the next game and do whatever you can to get through it,” said McGrath.

“( But) when you’ve got important series ( like) South Africa coming up … You want him playing but you want him at 100 per cent and you want to make sure next series he’s ready.”