Starc eyes record as 'ruthless' Aussies target series sweep

Mitch Starc is building an all-time ODI record and he's got plenty more left in the tank, says Australia spinner Ashton Agar.

Starc is one wicket away from his 200th ODI wicket, which if he manages to claim in either of his next two games, he will become the fastest player to ever reach the mark, overtaking legendary Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq's 104 matches.

And Agar says Starc's impressive track record and imposing stature brings an air of confidence to the Australian group.

"You walk a lot taller with a big, left-arm fast bowler who's coming in bowling mid-140s (kph) and capable of bowling 150(kph)," Agar told reporters in Townsville on Friday.

"We all hate facing him in the nets.

"He got a few to swing the other day and there were stumps everywhere when he did.

"(It's) an amazing achievement to be close to 200 wickets in such a small amount of games."

Starc took 3-24 in Australia's eight-wicket rout Zimbabwe in the second Dettol ODI on Wednesday, including 3-15 in his opening spell.

Although the visitors' innings only lasted 27.5 overs, Starc bowled eight of them with captain Aaron Finch eager to the get his star quick to his milestone.

"I'm pretty sure Finch was really trying to get him there," Agar said.

"There were plenty of plays and misses but he just couldn't find that edge or the stumps.

"He'll definitely get there and he's going to get a hell of a lot more over his career."

Agar returned to the Australian line-up for the first time on Wednesday since injuring his side in the first one-day international in Sri Lanka in June.

The left-arm tweaker bowled three overs and finished with 1-15 in his return match, claiming the wicket of Zimbabwe captain Regis Chakabva.

"It always feels weird playing out in the middle when you haven't played for a while," Agar said.

"You lose your bearings a bit, like getting to your run up and getting to the crease.

"But once you get the first few balls out of the way, it's that real sense of freedom."

Agar was in line to make his Test return in the two-match series that followed the five ODIs on the Sri Lanka tour, but his side strain kept him out of the first Test and he eventually returned home when it was determined he wouldn't recover for the second.

The 28-year-old said that his batting had been a big focus of his training during his two months of rehabilitation.

"I've never done a side before and it's something I definitely don't want to do again, (it was a) pretty painful injury," Agar said.

"I've been trying to put a lot more time into my batting as that's always an area to try and improve on if I want to keep trying to be an allrounder."

The same pitch that was used for the first two ODIs will be used for a third time at Riverway Stadium, with Australia captain Aaron Finch having no hesitation in bowling first both times. 

And Agar would be happy if the Aussies maintain the status quo in the final match of the series.

"I don't see myself coming up the order yet," he said.

"I don't think we'll tinker around too much with (the batting order).

"It's a pretty tricky pitch. It's really seaming around a lot (at the start) and it's quite up and down.

"It's a no-brainer on this pitch to get out there and bowl first and try to rock and roll the team as fast as you can and get the job done.

"That's professional cricket, a lot of people want us to bat first, but I think we'll try and be as ruthless as possible."

Men's Dettol ODI Series v Zimbabwe

First ODI: Australia won by five wickets

Second ODI: Australia won by eight wickets

Saturday Sep 3: Riverway Stadium, Townsville, 9:40am

Australia squad: Aaron Finch, Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa.

Zimbabwe squad: Ryan Burl, Regis Chakabva (c), Bradley Evans, Luke Jongwe, Innocent Kaia, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Clive Madande, Wessly Madhevere, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Tony Munyonga, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Victor Nyauchi, Sikandar Raza, Sean Williams.

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