Mitchell Starc back in action after long layoff

His comeback came in a one-day match for the New South Wales Blues side, where he returned figures of 0/38 in six overs.

"It's only about the fourth bowl I've had to batsmen, so it's a bit different out in the middle than in the nets. (I'm) trying to make a few changes to the action and the run-up, trying to find some rhythm through there and have a nice hit out in the middle with the Blues boys," Starc said after the game in Blacktown on Tuesday, 21 August.

The 28-year-old faced a bone stress reaction in his right leg in Australia's Test against South Africa at Cape Town in March.

The injury kept him out of action for more than four months, forcing him to miss the fourth Test of the series in South Africa, which Australia lost 3-1, as well as the Indian Premier League and Australia's limited-overs fixtures in the intervening period.

The left-arm pacer, Australia's bowling spearhead when in harness, is aiming to make a comeback to the national squad for the two-Test series against Pakistan in October in the United Arab Emirates.

Meanwhile, Australia A will take on India A in a two-match series of four-day games in the subcontinent over the next few days, with the series expected to provide some ideas of the Test squad for the Pakistan Tests.

Starc also suggested that the 'A' series will help the senior team members within the squad to acclimatise to conditions which might not be too dissimilar to what is usually the case in the UAE.

"There's an Australia A tour over there where the guys are getting some time in the subcontinent. The guys in Australia are spending some time, like us, out in the middle today. The prep is going really well for everyone looking to put their hand up for that tour," he said.