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Aussies ponder how to extend pace potency

Superstar duo Starc and Hazlewood ready to tackle Pakistan while selectors have eyes on horizon for testing India tour

It's a perplexing quandary, but one Australia must face: how to maximise the impact from strike fast-bowlers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.

The pair have played all six Tests this summer and coach Darren Lehmann has suggested the duo could miss part of the upcoming five-match ODI series against Pakistan.

Starc and Hazlewood have both carried an immense burden in recent months, especially in the three-Test series against Pakistan.

Replay all of Pakistan's wickets

The new-ball pairing delivered a total of almost 300 overs against Misbah-ul-Haq's side. Both pacemen have never bowled so much in a Test series before.

While winning the ODI series against Pakistan will be the immediate priority, Australian cricket will also have an eye on the horizon with a four-Test tour of India looming in March.

The timing and length of any break is yet to be decided, with Starc and Hazlewood included in a 14-man squad named on Saturday. The series starts in Brisbane on Friday.

Quick Single: Three new faces in Aussie ODI squad

"They've had six Test matches on the trot so we'll sum that up in the next day or two," Lehmann said.

"For those guys it's more a case of making sure we see how they pull up. They'll play during the one-day series, no doubt about that, it's just about how many games.

"(It also) depends on conditions really. The Gabba's got some pace and bounce, so we'll definitely have three quicks there and maybe in Perth."

Axing ODI pair a tough call: Lehmann

Starc was proud of the fact he and Hazlewood played in Sydney despite the short turnaround after the Boxing Day Test.

"It's a Test match for Australia so you find a way to get up," Starc told the Nine Network.

"It's pretty hard work sometimes on some of these wickets, but you have to find a way.

"It's a pretty good effort for us to get through the six Test matches together.

"Josh has taken a heap of wickets. He's been phenomenal for us and allowed me to bowl as fast as I can at the other end and be aggressive."

Starc appeared to be limping on day five of the third Test but remained on the field and skipper Steve Smith suggested he was fine.

Cummins bags four in Canberra demolition

Lehmann and selectors won't want to overwork oft-injured tearaway Pat Cummins, who returned from a lay-off of almost 15 months earlier this summer.

Cummins is set to spearhead the attack in the absence of Starc and Hazlewood, with bolter Billy Stanlake the other paceman included in the ODI squad.

Pacemen's potent summer

Josh Hazlewood (274.1 overs): 32 wickets at 20.90 from 6 Tests

Mitchell Starc (265.2 overs): 28 wickets at 32.10 from 6 Tests.