"Struggling simply through fitness and injury": Should Starc be rested from Sri Lanka tour?

Sports broadcaster Glen Hawke believes Australia should rest Mitchell Starc for the two-test tour of Sri Lanka to prolong the career of the veteran fast bowler.

Starc pushed through a reported torso injury in the final Test in Sydney, having passed fitness tests to play, however, doubts over the severity of his injury linger.

The 34-year-old has played 94 tests for Australia since his debut in 2011, taking 376 wickets in that time, and is in the twilight of a glittering career, causing Hawke to think Starc should miss the tour to Sri Lanka, instead prioritising Test series coming later in the year.

“I love Mitch Starc. He’s an absolute warrior,” Hawke said on SEN 1170 Afternoons.

“With those last two tests, he looked to be struggling simply through fitness and injury.

“We need Mitchell Starc in the Champions Trophy. We need Mitchell Starc firing in the Ashes. We don’t need him firing in two Tests in Sri Lanka.

“We need to get him through to the back end of his career and have him playing the most important Test matches from here on.”

Hawke suggested throwing the new ball to a potential debutant to fill Starc’s void, before naming his preferred line-up for Australia’s bowling attack.

“For me, this opens the door for Sean Abbott,” Hawke commented.

“We spoke about the torrid time Sean Abbott has had over the past ten years, it would be amazing to see him get his Test debut, finally getting his baggy green.

“He’s opening the bowling. (Then) Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland retains his spot as the other fast bowler and Matthew Kuhnemann, left arm orthodox; he turns the ball the other way from Nathan Lyon as well.”

The tour of Sri Lanka begins on January 29 as Steve Smith prepares to bring up 10,000 career Test runs.