Australia’s injury-plagued young pace brigade believe they can draw inspiration from the lion-hearted efforts of the veterans who won back the Ashes this summer.
The young trio of Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson and Pat Cummins have long been tagged as Australia’s fast bowling cartel of the future – but injuries have curtailed their development.
Sadly stress fractures, shin injuries, foot dramas and side strains have been more commonly associated with the trio than hat-tricks, bouncers and five-fors.
But Starc believes the efforts of paceman Ryan Harris, who powered through Ashes whitewash and 2-1 Test series win over South Africa with knees that required urgent surgery, has set the benchmark for Australian quicks when it comes to not only playing, but starring, under duress.
Harris’ knee troubles have been well documented, but his performance in the South Africa series, where he claimed the final two wickets for a dramatic third Test victory in Cape Town while barely able to run in to bowl, blew teammates away.
“You do learn that as you get older. As a young guy you learn what you can and can’t get through,” Starc told AAP.
“To go through what Ryan’s done, he’s obviously set the benchmark.
“Ryano is a machine.
“It’s a huge credit to him and what he’s come through to do so well.
“He’s got some new stuff in his knee now so hopefully he can keep going for a while yet.”
Starc is coming off his worst 12 months injury-wise.
An injury to his right ankle, which flared up against Sri Lanka in the summer of 2012-13, signalled the difficult times to come.
The tall left-armer was unable to finish the horror 4-0 tour of India in March, sent home before the fourth Test to have surgery to remove bone spurs from his troublesome ankle.
He recovered in time to tour England in July, playing three Tests – but scans in September revealed a stress fracture of his back which knocked him out of the entire Australian summer, including the return Ashes.
He said it was a frustrating time, and Starc admits he had several heated conversations with medical staff during his recovery as he wanted to make a return during the Big Bash or Sheffield Shield competitions in January.
But that gave him some perspective about how he and his fellow young quicks can come through some injury hell.
“As you get a little bit older you understand that injuries are going to be part of fast bowling and they generally happen more frequently as a young bowler,” Starc said.
“Those guys, (Peter) Siddle, Harris, (Mitchell) Johnson, who did so well through the last Ashes they’re all a little bit more mature, their bodies have hardened up a bit.
“I guess that’s what us three young guys have got to look forward to. Once we do get past a few injury problems, the bones will harden up.
“It’s going to leave us in good stead for when we do get past that line and harden up and are ready to go.”