Starc calls for reinforcement for Pakistan series

Australia’s superstar pacer Mitchell Starc has said that senior players must step up to help captain Tim Paine to lead an inexperienced team during their next tour against Pakistan.

Australia head to the United Arab Emirates for a Test series slated for October without two of their most experienced campaigners, with former captain Steve Smith and his deputy David Warner suspended after the Cape Town ball-tampering scandal.

Starc said senior players such as himself, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins should support Paine.

“It’s obviously a younger team and there’s some changing faces,” Starc told local broadcaster Fox Sports on Monday.

“I guess as someone who’s been around for a bit longer than some of the other guys, along with Josh and probably Pat as well now ... (it’s time) for us to step up a little bit in those senior ranks and maybe have a little bit more of a voice along with Painey there and help him along.”

Paine led a depleted Australia team to a stinging 5-0 whitewash in a one-day international series away to England in June and promptly cast doubt on his future captaincy of the limited overs side.

“They’re a little bit behind me I think,” said Starc, who slept rough on the Sydney Cricket Ground turf on Sunday night to raise money for a local charity that fights youth homelessness.

“If all is going well with them they might start bowling this week ... I’m a little bit ahead. Hopefully all three of us are on the plane to the UAE.”