'Mitchell Starc is a real weapon if the ball is swinging early'

Australia's bowling coach Craig McDermott says in-form pacer Mitchell Starc must be consistent throughout the 44-day long Cricket World Cup to give co-hosts the best chance of winning the coveted title. 

Starc, with 12 wickets, is the leading wicket-taker in the ongoing tri-series including India and England, performing the role of pace spearhead well in the absence of Mitchell Johnson. 

"We do have two spearheads from that point of view," McDermott told the Herald Sun. 

"Mitchell Starc is swinging the new ball. It is certainly going to swing for him in Perth. He is a real weapon if he gets it right and the ball is swinging early.

"There is no point having two good games and two mediocre games. We are going into a World Cup.

"We have got to put six or seven good games together in a row to make sure we have got the best attack on the park and we are knocking teams over," said the former Australian fast bowler. 

Giving an update on Johnson's fitness ahead of the final in Perth on Sunday, McDermott said the left-arm pacer has been working up good pace in the nets.

"He has had a lot of cricket over the last little while and he is always bearing the brunt of a lot of overs. His rhythm looked good. 

"He bowled all his different variations and everything came out beautifully. Mitchell is always trying to bowl quickly. 

"We have had some pretty non-responsive wickets during the Test series for our pacemen. Everybody is looking forward to having a bowl at the WACA for the first time this summer," added McDermott.

Image: Mitchell Starc of Australia celebrates dismissing James Taylor of England during the Sydney One Day International.

Photograph: Gareth Copley/Getty Images