Keep Proteas in mind with Starc: McGrath

Champion fast bowler Glenn McGrath says injured pace ace Mitchell Starc should play in the fifth Magellan Ashes Test in Sydney but only if he's 100 per cent recovered from a bruised heel.

Starc did not play in the preceding Boxing Day Test, the sixth time in seven seasons he's missed the iconic fixture, after injuring his heel in Perth where Australia wrapped up the Ashes, however he did bowl off his full run at training today in the SCG nets, showing no signs of pain.

But with the blockbuster four-Test tour of South Africa less than two months away, McGrath would be reluctant to play the left-armer if he's not fully fit.

"You'd love Mitchell Starc to be playing, there's no doubt about it," McGrath said at the Sydney Cricket Ground today.

"Someone who bowls at that pace, attacking lengths that he bowls and swings the ball.

"You want him playing every game possible, especially at his home ground here.

"But with a big tour of South Africa coming up … if he's 100 per cent fit I'd play him.

"If he's not quite there, unfortunately (they) might have to let him have a rest and have him ready for South Africa."

Speedster Pat Cummins said on Tuesday Starc was firing on all cylinders in the SCG nets. 

“I haven’t spoken to him but it looked like he was bowling quick, running around and wasn’t limping,” Cummins said. 

“I know he’s really keen to play and he’s pretty confident he’s going to play. 

“Now it’s seeing how it recovers. He said it’s got better the last week or two since Perth. So hopefully he gets through today and he’s alright.”

Australia sorely missed Starc's potency in Melbourne on a benign pitch that extinguished any hopes of a result.

Opposition quick James Anderson said someone of the left-armer's pace would have been invaluable for the Australians on the unhelpful surface.

"If you put Starc on that pitch or someone who bowls above 90mph, they kind of take the pitch out of the equation," Anderson said.

The 27-year-old has 19 wickets in three Ashes Tests this summer to top the series' wicket-taker's list despite his absence in the Victorian capital.

Australia have also drafted in Western Australia left-arm spinner Ashton Agar in case the SCG wicket is thought to favour slow bowling, but due to the laying of a new outfield following the AFL season, there has been no first-class cricket at the SCG this summer to act as a guide as to how the wicket square will play.

Primary tweaker Nathan Lyon shared the spinning duties with Stephen O'Keefe in the corresponding match against Pakistan last summer.

Should the pitch be deemed to be spin friendly, Agar could come in for Jackson Bird, the Tasmanian quick who came in for Starc in Melbourne.

2017-18 International Fixtures

Magellan Ashes Series

Australia Test squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird, Ashton Agar.

England Test squad: Joe Root (c), James Anderson (vc), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Gary Ballance, Stuart Broad, Alastair Cook, Mason Crane, Tom Curran, Ben Foakes, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ben Stokes, Mark Stoneman, James Vince, Chris Woakes.

First Test Australia won by 10 wickets. Scorecard

Second Test Australia won by 120 runs (Day-Night). Scorecard

Third Test Australia won by an innings and 41 runs. Scorecard

Fourth Test MCG, drawn. Scorecard

Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Tickets

Gillette ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14. Tickets

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Tickets

Fifth ODI Perth Stadium, January 28. Tickets

Prime Minister's XI

PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Tickets

Gillette T20 trans-Tasman Tri-Series

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Tickets

Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Tickets

Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Tickets

Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 14

Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21