NCN injury scuppered plan to rest Starc

Bupa Support Team Head Coach Darren Lehmann has revealed Mitchell Starc would have flown home after the third ODI against England on Tuesday if it wasn't for Nathan Coulter-Nile's hamstring injury.

Marathon man Starc has played all 26 international matches for Australia in 2015 and was set to earn a well-earned rest after the 93-run loss in Manchester on Tuesday.

But a hamstring strain suffered by Coulter-Nile in Saturday’s controversial win at Lord’s thwarted those plans, leaving the selectors to call in fast bowler John Hastings as cover and retain Starc for the remainder of the series.

Australia dealt injury blow during ODI series

"We wanted to try and get him home if we could - play a couple of games and bring in a younger bowler again,” Lehmann said.

"It hasn't played out that way so we'll just sum it up from here."

Lehmann is confident the ODI squad has enough gas left in the tank to finish the tour and claim victory in the one-day series, which Australia leads 2-1.

"We've got a young group. We've obviously changed over a fair bit," Lehmann said ahead of Friday's fourth match in Leeds.

"I know there's been a lot of talk about, say, someone like Mitchell Starc ... his workload over the past 12 months has been exceptional.

"We'll see whether he plays or not tomorrow.

"It's a really good young group, so we're happy with where they're going and now it's a case of one more match."

Starc, the world’s top-ranked ODI bowler, has taken four wickets at 42.25 this series, with his last start at Old Trafford producing the most expensive figures, 1-79, of his 45-match career.

If Starc is granted a rest Victoria's Hastings will be the left-armer’s replacement given his knowledge of English conditions and his sparkling form for Durham in the 50-over cricket this summer.

Watch: Starc bounces back in style (restrictions apply)

Hastings claimed 18 wickets in eight matches for this season, but Lehmann says the pitch could determine whether the Victorian plays his first ODI since August 2011.

"We'll certainly have a look at the wicket and see (what the) conditions look like,” Lehmann said.

"John comes with experience, he's had a good summer with Durham.

"If we decide to go that way and give Mitchell a break, we'll go that way."

While Starc may be battling fatigue, one fast bowler who isn’t is Patrick Cummins.

Cummins is the leading wicket-taker in the series with eight scalps at 19.25, and has impressed his coach with his ability to clock speeds upwards of 150kph.

"He's flying, isn't he?,” Lehmann said of Cummins.

"I'm really impressed with the way he's going.

"He's been exceptional, his pace is up, he's bowling good areas, good variations.

"The one-day game really suits him and now it's about transferring that into red-ball form."